Arunachal's Taekwondo Athletes Secure Wild Card Entries for 38th National Games

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh’s taekwondo players Marpi Basar, Dorik Gamoh, and Ampo Apum have secured wild card entries for the 38th National Games, set to take place in Uttarakhand from 28 January to 14 February.

Their selection followed trials conducted by the Taekwondo Federation of India under Indian Olympic Association supervision, based on a court directive, in Lucknow on 20-21 January.

The trio recently showcased their excellence by clinching a gold medal in group pomsae at the 7th National Open Taekwondo Championship 2025 in Lucknow, further solidifying their position as top contenders for the upcoming games.

In the championship, participants from Arunachal Pradesh secured three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. Badal Das claimed gold in individual poomsae (senior male category), while Dorik Gamoh, Marpi Basar, and Ampo Apum won gold in group poomsae (senior female category).

Additionally, Badal and Dorik secured gold in senior mixed pair poomsae. Dorik and Marpi also earned silver and bronze, respectively, in senior female individual poomsae.

Meanwhile, Rupa Bayor, a 23-year-old Taekwondo athlete from Arunachal, made history as the first Indian to enter the top 10 of the World Poomsae Rankings in October 2022.

Bayor, introduced to Taekwondo in 2015 by her uncle, has achieved significant milestones, including a silver medal at the Asian Open in Indonesia and India’s first-ever medal at the Asian Championships 2022. She emphasized the need for greater government support and sponsorship to help Indian Taekwondo athletes excel globally.

Also Read:

Also Watch: