Three strength lifters from Sikkim are all set to represent the country in the 6th International Strength Lifting & Incline Bench Press Championship 2018 to be held from 7 -10 April at Bali in Indonesia.
The trio are part of the 52-member Indian team for the championship.
Pema Dorjee Bhutia in master’s category and Pempa Tamang and Santosh Gupta in senior category will be representing India in the championship.
They are leaving on Wednesday to join other members of Indian team at Kolkata. The national team is scheduled to leave on April 6 for the championship.
In a small function held here on Tuesday, Sikkim Strength Lifting Association (SSLA) vice-president, Mani Kumar Rasaily and other executive members and players expressed their best wishes to all three lifters from Sikkim and other members of the national team for the upcoming championship.
It may be mentioned that these three lifters have been shortlisted to represent the country for their outstanding performance in the 24th Senior National championship held at Pune in Maharashtra in January this year.
Pema Dorjee Bhutia is representing the country for fourth consecutive time in this international championship. He has won 6 gold medals and the title of the champion of the champions for three consecutive times in master’s category in the last three edition of the championship.
“We have undergone a rigorous practices session for two months for this championship. We are very hopeful and confident to win medals for the country in this championship,” Bhutia said.
Santosh Gupta is participating for the second time in this international championship. He won a silver medal in the last edition of the championship held last year at Colombo in Sri Lanka. He also expressed his confidence to win gold this time in the championship.
This is the debut performance of Pempa Tamang in the international championship. However, he expressed his hope to win the gold medal for the country championship. He also expressed his happiness on getting an opportunity to represent India.
SSLA publicity secretary, Pema Wangdi Yonzon expressed his best wishes to all three lifters and encouraged them to maintain their form and performance to win medals for the country and the State.