Himachal Pradesh Shines at 13th National Pencak Silat Championship in Lucknow. 

Lucknow:

The 13th Senior and Master Category National Pencak Silat Championship, organized under the aegis of the Indian Pencak Silat Federation by the Uttar Pradesh Pencak Silat Association, was held from May 9 to 12 at the KD Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow. The prestigious martial arts event saw the participation of over 800 athletes from across the country, including representatives from all Indian states, Union Territories, and defense organizations like the SSB, Army, and All India Police Control Board.

The Pencak Silat Association of Himachal Pradesh, under the leadership of President Joginder Singh Azad, fielded a strong contingent in both the Senior and Masters categories. The state team consisted of 18 senior participants (5 women and 13 men) and 2 male competitors in the Masters category.

The highlight of Himachal Pradesh’s performance came in the Masters Tanding (Fight) Event, where:

• Ajay Kumar from Kangra district won the Gold Medal in the 65 kg category.
• Rakesh Kumar from Mandi district clinched the Gold Medal in the 70 kg category.

These outstanding achievements brought immense pride to the state, reflecting the growing stature of martial arts like Pencak Silat in Himachal Pradesh.

The leadership of the Himachal Pradesh Pencak Silat Association extended heartfelt congratulations to the medal winners. The congratulatory message was issued by:

• H.D. Panchani (Chairman)
• Joginder Singh Azad (President)
• Brij Lal Chauhan (Vice President, Mandi)
• Surendra Kumar
• Mohammad Javed (General Secretary)
• Sher Singh (Joint Secretary)
• Banita Kumari (Treasurer)
• Narendra Kumar, Rohan, and Devgya Awasthi (Executive Members)

Their collective message praised the hard work, discipline, and dedication of the athletes, encouraging them to continue striving for excellence and bringing further laurels to the state.

“These victories reflect the talent and potential of our athletes even from the hill states. We are proud of Ajay and Rakesh for their gold medal wins, and we hope this success inspires more youth to take up Pencak Silat as a serious sport,” said Joginder Singh Azad, President of the Pencak Silat Association of Himachal Pradesh.

The championship concluded on a high note, with Himachal Pradesh firmly establishing its presence on the national martial arts stage.