Sikkim’s two powerlifters returned home with gold medals from the 44th National Powerlifting Championship held recently in Jammu.
Asal Rai and Tashi Gyatso Lachungpa won one gold medal each in their respective weight category for Sikkim.
Asal Rai won gold medal in the 100 kg category
Rai lifted total weight of 500 kg while Tashi Gyatso lifted 525 kg in the 82.5 kg category to clinch a gold medal.
A two-day member Body Building & Power Lifting Association of Sikkim [BBPLAS] team was also accompanied by Yogesh Rai as the team manager to the championship.
Addressing a press conference at Gangtok on Saturday, BBPLAS president Kala Rai congratulated both the lifters for winning gold and bringing laurels for the sState in the national championship.
She expressed that the achievement of the duo in the national level would inspire and motivate promising and young lifters in the state.
She further expressed that the department in the state would support the association to bring out more national and international athletes from the state.
BBPLAS general secretary Pema WD Bhutia said the achievement of the duo was a prestigious moment for the association and the state.
She stated that the association has been sending participants from Sikkim in the national level championship and also promoting bodybuilding and powerlifting through different activities in the state.
He also shared that BBPLAS has planned to organise the state level bodybuilding championship in the state this December.
BBPLAS vice-president Yogesh Rai, who accompanied the team as the manager, informed that lifters from 10 states participated in the championship.
He mentioned that except for the two-member team from Sikkim, other participating states had big contingents in the championship.
However, he expressed that it was a proud moment that both members in the team won gold for the state with their outstanding performances.
He expressed that to win national gold medals by the state was a historic and proud moment for the entire powerlifting community of the state.
Asal Thapa expressed his happiness at winning the first national gold medal for the state.
He expressed that the competition was really tough and to win gold medal in such competitive event was a very big moment for him.
Tashi Gyatso expressed that his hard work finally bore fruits in the form of his first national gold medal.
He expressed his happiness at winning the gold medal for the state.
He encouraged young upcoming lifters of the state saying that the hard work was the key to success and for consistent hard work and efforts to do well in the future.
He also thanked every individual for the support to bring him to this level.