Gangtok, Aug 2 (IPR): Risers FC were crowned champions of the inaugural Sikkim Futsal League 2026 at the closing ceremony held at the M24 Futsal Arena in Deorali today, marking the conclusion of the maiden edition of the tournament organised by the Futsal Association of Sikkim (FAS) under the aegis of the Sikkim Football Association (SFA).
The closing ceremony was graced by Mr Tenzing Loden Lepcha, DIG, Range Gangtok and Pakyong, as the Chief Guest, along with dignitaries and officials of FAS.
Risers FC emerged as champions following an impressive campaign and were presented with the championship trophy, medals and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh. Beyul FC missed out on the title on goal difference and had to settle for the runners-up spot, receiving a cash prize of ₹50,000.
Individual awards were also presented during the ceremony. Chultim of Risers FC received the Golden Glove, Sudeep Gurung of Brothers FC was awarded the Golden Boot, while Bikash Jairu of Risers FC was presented with the Golden Ball.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to all participating teams and match officials in recognition of their contribution to the successful conduct of the inaugural league.
Addressing the gathering, the President of the Futsal Association of Sikkim, Dr Thakela Bhutia, highlighted the successful conduct of the inaugural league, which commenced on June 24 with ten participating teams. He expressed gratitude to the participating teams, officials, volunteers, sponsors and partners for their contribution to the successful completion of the tournament. He acknowledged the support of the Sikkim State AIDS Control Society and Sikkim Milk Union for sponsoring the Man of the Match awards, Sikkim Sanjeevani for providing gift hampers, and the Forest and Environment Department for its support. He also appreciated the media support extended by Football.in, the Information and Public Relations Department (IPR) and The Sikkim Chronicle. He further acknowledged the support of venue partner M24, STNM Hospital, Central Referral Hospital (CRH), Manipal, and Sikkim Garib Jankalyan Prakosta for medical and ambulance services, and expressed gratitude to the Sikkim Football Association for its support.
FAS Advisor, Mr Palden Bhutia, congratulated the organising team for successfully conducting the maiden league and emphasised the role of sports in engaging youth in positive and healthy pursuits. Mr Palden Bhutia expressed hope that the league would contribute to the State's drug-free campaign by encouraging young people to take up sports and develop their talents, while also expressing hope that the tournament would grow on a larger scale in the coming years.
FAS Technical Head, Mr Bishal Chettri, highlighted that the league was aimed at building technical awareness of futsal among local players, many of whom come from a football background. He said the league would also serve as a platform for grassroots development and talent identification, with the long-term objective of enabling more players from Sikkim to represent the State at the national level and India at the international level.
The General Secretary of the Futsal Association of Sikkim, Mr Nishant Das Rai, said the inaugural league marked an important first step towards establishing an annual futsal competition in the State. He stated that the Association aims to make the second edition stronger while identifying and developing talent from across Sikkim to form a competitive team for national-level competitions. He expressed confidence that sustained grassroots development and regular competition would help produce more players for the national stage.
As part of the league, the Futsal Association of Sikkim also conducted a CPR training programme in collaboration with STNM Hospital for players and officials. The training was conducted by Cardiologist Dr Palden Bhutia, along with anaesthesiologists from STNM Hospital and Chairman of the Medical Board of the Futsal Association of Sikkim Dr Abhishek Gurung. The initiative aimed to equip players and officials with essential life-saving skills and promote greater awareness of emergency response in sports.
The inaugural league featured ten teams and provided a competitive platform for local futsal players to gain valuable match experience while familiarising themselves with the technical and regulatory aspects of the sport.
Report from DIO-GANGTOK