The northeast has no dearth of sporting talent, and youth of the region have already proved their mettle in various sports. Now, martial arts have caught the fancy of youth in the region.
During first National Northeast Zone Karate Championship held here recently, about 350 participants from Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur were showcased their karate skills.
The competition was held for different age groups to select participants for the National Championship.
The girls from Assam dominated the Karata event in the 12-13 age group.
"When I see the participants, I feel that there is so much of enthusiasm among the youngsters. It's good to see them play with their heart and soul. I wish them all the best. I can see that they have a bright future when it comes to karate," said Anutoke Marry, a participant from Meghalaya
"At the national level, our players always get medals, especially those from Assam and Meghalaya. This year we have great hopes from them as they have been selected very carefully. Whoever goes to the national level from here, will definitely be very good," added Uday Kumar Saha, an organizer.
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Martial arts are also becoming popular among youth of Sikkim.
These young boys and girls practice hard every day at the karate training center in Pakyong in East Sikkim with the hope of making it big in their chosen field.
The association has trained many youth who have participated in national and international competitions, and brought laurels to the state.
"I have come here to teach the children how to meet international standards. We want the youth from Sikkim to reach the international level and make Sikkim and India proud. That will be our victory," said Shihan Premjit Sen, instructor and examiner.
Karate is not only an effective means of self defense but can also become a viable career option for those interested in the martial art.