Sikkim athletics team heads to Patna for East Zone junior championships

GANGTOK,: Sikkim sent a 15-athlete team to the 37th East Zone Junior Athletics Championships, which will be held in Patna from 22 to 24 September.

The contingent, fielded by Sikkim Athletics Association (SAA), comprises 15 athletes and three officials. HisheyTenzing Bhutia will serve as manager, with Chandramaya Das and R.B. Subba as coaches.

The championships, organised by Bihar Athletics Association under the aegis of Athletics Federation of India, will take place at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Kankarbagh.

Athletes from across the East Zone will compete in the under-14, under-16, under-18 and under-20 categories in track, field and combined events.

Sikkim's squad was selected through a formal selection process and will contest 27 individual and relay event entries, the SAA said.

Among the team are three athletes who won medals at last year's 36th East Zone Championships in Ranchi. Sabina Rai returns after winning gold in the women's Under-20 3000m steeplechase, while PhurbaHissey Sherpa was an under-18 boys' 1000m champion. RewaBaraily won bronze in the under-18 girls' heptathlon.

The Sikkim Athletics Association thanked Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) for his continued support and encouragement for the State’s young athletes. It also acknowledged Sports and Youth Affairs secretary Yangchen D. Tamangfor helping facilitate the team's participation.

The association wished the athletes and officials a successful championship.