Himalaya Harbinger, Uttarakhand Bureau.
Rudrapur/Shillong, March 27–29, 2026 — The “Pencak Silat Asmita Khelo India National League 2026”, held from March 27 to 29, 2026 at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre, NEHU, Shillong (Meghalaya), was organized under the aegis of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) with the support of the Indian Pencak Silat Federation. In this prestigious national event, women athletes from Uttarakhand delivered an outstanding performance, bringing pride to the state.
More than 700 selected senior women athletes from across India participated in the competition. Representing Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, three talented players from Rudrapur — Tanuja Bungla, Sunita Bhatt, and Pooja Mehar — showcased उत्कृष्ट performance in the Regu Team Event, securing a silver medal.
In addition, in the Fighting (Tanding) Event, Pooja Mehar won a gold medal in the 50–55 kg weight category, adding another remarkable achievement for Uttarakhand.
Coach and Secretary of the Pencak Silat Association Uttarakhand, Bablu Diwakar, stated that all players train rigorously for 4 to 6 hours daily at the Diwakar Sports and Fitness Academy, Rudrapur, which has significantly contributed to these excellent results. He further mentioned that the performance of Uttarakhand’s senior women players has been consistently commendable over the past three years, and this year as well, all players have succeeded in winning medals.
During the event, the winners were honored with medals and certificates by the Chairman of the Indian Pencak Silat Federation, Mohammad Iqbal. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) also awarded cash prizes to the athletes.
The silver medal-winning Regu Team — Tanuja Bungla, Sunita Bhatt, and Pooja Mehar — received a cash award of ₹30,000. Additionally, for winning the gold medal in the Fighting Event, Pooja Mehar was awarded ₹12,000.
This achievement is a matter of pride not only for Rudrapur but for the entire state of Uttarakhand and serves as an inspiration for emerging sports talents
