DARJEELING BAGS MEDALS AT ALL INDIA INDEPENDENCE CUP KARATE FINALS AT DELHI

By Nisha Chettri (TNI Nisha Chettri) ~ Edited By T. Deepika (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Kalimpong, 25th August, 2015: Five selected children of Darjeeling Karate-do-association bagged five laurels in the 11th All India Independence Cup Karate Championship held on August 22nd and 23rd in Talkatora Indoor Stadium, Delhi. Arnav Thapa from St Augustine School and Chogyal Bhutia from Kumudini Homes bagged gold medals, Anisha Lepcha from Pranami Balika Vidhya Mandir bagged silver medal, Subham Prasad from St Augustine School and Rigzin Dorjee from SUMI won bronze medals. Sharing their experience Arnav Thapa, gold medalist said that it was wonderful to participate in the national level competition, ‘I was little nervous as it was my first participation in a national level competition but later I gained the necessary confidence’. These were the same students who were felicitated on 17th August by Darjeeling Karate-do-association to encourage them who indeed didn’t let go of the expectations from their chief coach Sushan Thapa. Meanwhile, Thapa who is also a secretary of Darjeeling Karate-do-association expressed his happiness, ‘It would not be possible without children’s dedication towards this art, they are very passionate about Karate’ said Thapa. P.R Pradhan, the advisor of the association and the former principal of SUMI also spoke to the correspondent regarding the achievement of the young students, ‘we have to encourage them to go and play in national level competitions so that they get an opportunity to face contestants from other states’ said Pradhan. However the town is more enthusiastic on other sport activities like cricket and football which ruefully shadows such martial arts and artists, feels P.R Pradhan.

Photo: Nisha Chettri (TNI)