Monday, Jan 12, 2026 22:45 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Jan 11, 2026 17:18 [IST]
GANGTOK, : Former footballer Lokendra Gurung and his academy delegation had a
meaningful interaction with football stakeholders in Shillong for youth
football development activities in Sikkim.
Lokendra
is presently in Shillong with his academy team to participate in the Shillong
International Youth Cup 2025.
On
Saturday, Lokendra met Hrishiraj Talukdar, founder of Prithivi Sports &
Events, and co-founder of Shillong International Youth Cup 2026. They discussed
on youth football development and possibilities of collaboration for such
activities in Sikkim.
It
was mutually agreed to prepare a road map for introducing international-level
youth football tournaments in Sikkim, with Geyzing in West Sikkim proposed as
the central hub for such initiatives.
This
vision will be developed in close coordination with the Government of Sikkim to
strengthen the State’s football ecosystem and create world-class opportunities
for emerging players of Sikkim, shared Lokendra.
Lokendra’s
football academy is based in Yangtey, West Sikkim, and is representing Sikkim
in the u-15 tournament at Shillong with Micheal Lepcha as the head coach.
Sixteen football academies are competing in this tournament with Lokendra
Football Academy placed in Pool A. They play their first match on Monday.
It
was informed that semi-finalists will receive exemption from registration fees
for two international tournaments - the Bali Super Seven in Indonesia and the
Bangkok Super International Cup - with free accommodation, while the
tournament’s best player will earn a scholarship to train in Barcelona, Spain.
“The
tournament is a valuable platform for our young football talents and will help
in their development as a footballer. The tournament also offers good
opportunities for the teams, and our players are excited to give their best,”
said Lokendra.
