Thirteen Bhutanese karatekas will represent Bhutan at the first edition of the Sikkim Open International Karate Championship in Gangtok. The three-day championship will kick off on the 28th of this month. Around 1,000 karatekas from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and different parts of India will compete in the championship.
Twelve karatekas from the Thimphu Karate Club and one from the Bhutan Karate Association will take part in the Open International Karate Championship. They have been training for two hours daily over the past three months to showcase their skills at the event.
17-year-old Aanisha Rai from Samtse will lead the team as the captain. She will compete in Kumite in the 54-kilogramme weight category. Aanisha started Kumite at the age of 10 and has since won a gold and a silver at the eighth South Asian Karate Championship held last year.
Additionally, she secured silver and bronze medals at the Kalimpong International Championship.
“I have participated in several international tournaments, and based on my experience, I will give my utmost effort. Our team is confident as well, having trained intensively over the past three months. I believe we will achieve good results, and we are all striving for excellence.”
Similarly, 14-year-old Riya Subba from Sarpang will compete in both karate and kumite in the 43-kilogramme weight category. This marks her second international competition.
She first participated in the Kalimpong International Championship, where she won a gold medal in Kumite and a bronze in kata. Riya developed an interest in karate at the age of eight.
“Officially, we train for two hours daily, from 2 to 4 pm. However, we are going above and beyond, utilizing our extra time to practice diligently. We are hopeful and determined to achieve great results at the Sikkim Championship.”
Likewise, 17-year-old Gyalwa Kuenyum from Pema Gatshel, who started learning kata at the age of nine, will represent Bhutan internationally for the first time.
“I started practising karate in 2016, and I believe I have trained well over the years. This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for me to showcase my talent and skills while competing against other athletes. I am thrilled about the upcoming event, as it will be my first international tournament outside Bhutan.”
The team comprises eight girls and five boys, competing across weight categories ranging from 34 to 77 kilogrammes.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Sonam Pem
