Underprivileged Sikkim twins beat their poverty-ridden lives, win Muay Thai Championship

Poverty may limit your wants but not your desire to dream and achieve! Defeating not just their boxing opponents but also their poverty-ridden lives, 9-year-old Sikkim twins, Sagar Lepcha and Sajan Lepcha bagged medals at the National Junior and Sub-Junior Muay Thai Championship 2019 held last month in Guwahati, Assam.

While Sagar won a gold medal, Sajan bagged a silver in the 26-kg weight category for the 9 to 10-age group players.

According to Sikkim Express, the twins, Sagar and Sajan who study in the local Lower Bermoik government school hails from a family with meagre earnings, where to provide coaching classes for their passion for boxing was far beyond their reach.

Their lives changed for the better when, Mauy Thai player Dawgyal Lepcha (22), also their neighbour, spotted the potential of Sagar and Sajan in martial arts who took them under his wings.

“I could see their talent and wanted to support them. They hail from a poor family and I wanted the kids to do well in future and so I took them under me and started training them. They along with other kids train daily with me in the morning and evening hours,” said Dawgyal, an established Muay Thai player. He is also a member of the Muay Thai Association of Sikkim (MTAS).

Dawgyal’s hope for the twins all acme true when the twins earlier this year, Sagar and Sajan had bagged gold and silver medals, respectively, in the Northeast Muay Thai Championship held at Dentam in West Sikkim.

“Both Sagar and Sajan have the potential to do well in future in Muay Thai. We are planning to find sponsors so that the twins can be sent for international championship in coming days. They need support at this juncture,” said the mentor.

The Sikkim contingent won four gold medals and five silver medals. Among the winners were the twins.