Eight players and three officials from Assam have brought great joy to the region. They have been selected for the 11th WKF World Youth Cup Karate Championship 2018.
The competition is underway at Umag, Croatia which kicked off on July 2.
The eight players who are selected to partake in the Championship are Hemphu Bongjang, Saurav Kumar Gogoi, Nilav Nayan Thakuria, Ayushman Pachani, Ishita Kashyap, Akansha Konwar, Punit Jakhwal, and Ashis Talukdar.
Moreover, Nagen Bongjang, the secretary of (UKAA), has been selected as a coach. Also, Sunil Kumar Gogoi and Ramen Chakraborty will accompany the team as officials.
It is indeed a very proud moment and means a lot for this part of the world. North East is often regarded as the ‘most neglected’ region of India.
Be it boxing sensation Mary Kom, Shiva Thapa or Jeje Lalpekhlua, North East has time and again proved its contribution toward Indian sports.
Since, last few years, it has been deservedly recognized as the sporting powerhouse of India. Ishita Kashyap, Akanksha Konwar, Saurav Gogoi, Punit Jakhwal and Ashish Talukdar are from Guwahati’s Unified Karate Guild.
Furthermore, Ayushman Pachani, Hemphu Bongjang, and Nilav Nayan Thakuria are from Jorhat.
Karate is one of the most popular and practiced martial art forms in India in the contemporary sport. It grew in popularity in India way back in the 70s and 80s and with growing focus on self-defence, its popularity is at an all-time high.
After years of struggle and persuasion, Karate will finally make its debut appearance at the Summer Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. It only looks better from here on.
Simultaneously, the addition of the game in 2010 Tokyo Olympics should provide Karate the much required global appeal. It can take it to the masses and not just reduce it to the Asian countries and some part of America.