Nisha Chettri
Kalimpong September 21, 2015: 

Sushan Thapa, the chief coach of Darjeeling Gorkha Katate-Do Association (DGKA) was qualified in the ‘Black Belt Yon Dan (4th Dan) Japan Diploma’ from Shito-Ryu Seiko Kai Karate-Do International, Japan, under the supervision of the examiner Shihan Akira Sato, who is a Black Belt and a 8th Dan world Master of Shito-Ryu Seiko Kai Karate-Do International, Japan. ‘Dan’ in this fine art is a ranking system which is used to indicate the level of the performer’s ability in the subject of katate. The exam was held on 18th Sept at Bharat Continental Hotel, New-Delhi. Thapa who started learning Karate since 2004 in New-Delhi with his coach Bharat Sharma (Certified Coach of World Karate Federation) said that it was a long tough journey towards this martial excellence. Thapa in his Karate expedition has obtained many national as well as international laurels; he has also received gold and silver medals in Turkey, SriLanka, Dubai, Nepal and Bhutan respectively, ‘I was a gold medalist in International Karate-Do Competition in 2010, gold and silver medalist in another International competition in 2011’ said Thapa. Interestingly the lad of 24 officially represented the Indian Team at WKF 1st clubs world cup at Instabul in Turkey. This was Thapa’s 9th International level tournament however he has participated 12 times in the national level and 7 times in the state level. Now the founder of DGKA is assigned as a Chief Instructor/Examiner of Shito-Ryu Seiko Kai Karate-Do India, Darjeeling branch, Karate Association of India has also accredited him as the National Coach and Judge of KAI. ‘I am very happy for this achievement and I am looking forward to more international tournaments in the future’ said Thapa .