Players of the Karate Do Association of Bengal (KAB), trained under Hanshi Premjit Sen, delivered a notable performance at the 5th KIO National Karate Do Championship 2026 for Under-21, Senior and Para-Karate categories, held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, from 26 February to 1 March 2026, winning two Gold and two Bronze medals.
Hanshi Premjit Sen has been associated with the development of karate in West Bengal for more than a decade. Through regular training and preparation for competitive events, he has worked with a number of young practitioners who have gone on to represent the state in national championships over the years. In addition to training athletes, he has also been involved with karate activities as a coach, referee and administrator, contributing to the organisation of tournaments and the development of the sport in the state.
The championship was conducted under the leadership of Hanshi Bharat Sharma, President of Karate India Organisation, and was attended by dignitaries including Shahnawaz Hussain, former Union Cabinet Minister, Dr. Narendra Dhruv Batra, former Member of the International Olympic Committee and former President of the Indian Olympic Association, and Kuldeep Vats, President of the Delhi Olympic Association.
Medal Winners from West Bengal:
Rupkatha Dutta – Gold Medal (Under-21 Female Kata)
Sohini Chatterjee – Gold Medal (Under-21 Female Kumite −50 kg)🥉 Shivam Poddar – Bronze Medal (Senior Male Kumite −50 kg)
Debanjali Karmakar, Aishika Ghosh & Sneha Mondal – Bronze Medal (Senior Female Team Kata)
Before the championship, the players and coaches representing the Karate Do Association of Bengal received support related to their participation. This included medical insurance coverage of Rs. 2,00,000 for each player, Rs. 3,000 provided to each of the 25 players, Rs. 7,000 provided to each of the three coaches, payment of participation fees for all players, and tracksuits for both players and coaches.
Following the championship, Hanshi Premjit Sen, President of the Karate Do Association of Bengal, said:“The players prepared with sincerity and discipline for this championship. Their performance reflects the effort they have put into training over a long period. It is encouraging to see them represent West Bengal at the national level, and we hope they will continue to work with the same dedication in future competitions.”
He also stated that the association will felicitate the medal winners with Rs. 10,000 for each Gold medal and Rs. 5,000 for each Bronze medal.
Hanshi Joydeb Mondal, General Secretary of KAB, said:“We are proud of our players who had shown immense grit and determination for this event. KAB had in the past supported all the players and will continue this in the future too. For KAB, there should not be any financial burden for the immensely talented players to showcase their talent at any level.”
The results once again reflect the continued participation of West Bengal athletes in national karate competitions and the ongoing efforts to support the development of the sport in the state.
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