Kalimpong District Taekwondo Association

Preparing to Celebrate Taekwondo Golden Jubilee in 2026

Amos Chettri
Kalimpong, WB: India cannot be said to behind in any sports. Even if it does not come Gold Medal, Silver Medal or Bronze Medal, it is still participating in tournaments held all over the world. Among many sports, Taekwondo is also not new. It has become a part of every corner of India, be it schools, colleges, clubs, and public places. Similarly, Taekwondo has been known for many years in the beautiful green hills of West Bengal, Kalimpong District of India.

To give a brief history, Taekwondo was introduced in India around 1975 and one of the earliest Taekwondo instructor in India was Jimmy R. Jagtiani, an 8th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo who started teaching in 1975. On 2 August 1976, the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) was formed and established as the national body of Taekwondo in India.
The other side in 13 November 1949 the great man born in Kalimpong, West Bengal was Puran Andrew Gurung. After 70’s Puran Andrew got Master had been promoting Taekwondo since attaining his second dan in 1974 under the guidance of Grand Master Lee Pyung Pal. Puran Andrew Gurung initially in 29 may 1976 started teaching Taekwondo in Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Sikkim. Later, he expanded his training to Kolkata, the southern, northeastern and northern parts of India. He travelled frequently to every part of India till 1984.
Let us know that Taekwondo is one of the most popular and practiced martial arts in India. It is characterized by punching and kicking techniques, with an emphasis on head-high kicks, jumping spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The literal translation of Taekwondo is “kicking”, “punching”, and “art or way”. This history confirms that Taekwondo originated in the Kalimpong several decades ago.
In this context, the District Taekwondo Association in Kalimpong District is going to celebrate its Golden Jubilee celebration next year in 2026. At the moment Kalimpong District Taekwondo Academy has about 200 students and more than 50 branches. In 29 June 2025, a Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held under the chairmanship of Mr. Suraj Bhattarai and the Kalimpong District Taekwondo Academy decided to celebrate its Golden Jubilee with grandeur in the coming year by building a new and powerful organization. This meeting was held in near by Kalimpong District Library Community Hall kalimpong. In this meeting, former secretory and head of instructor Mr. Tashi Dorje Sherpa and Mr. Pasang Tshering Bhutia stood out as a patrons of Kalimpong District Taekwondo Association.
Mr. Pasang Tshering Bhutia said that the next round, all the children were informed that they would be taking the District level champion. He also informed them that they would be working in the Taekwondo Academy kalimpong for 50 years in 2026 and informed all the members that they should celebrate the “Golden” Jubilee in the first month of 2026 and all the members agreed to celebrate the “Golden” Jubilee.
The Kalimpong District Taekwondo Association is President (headed) by Mrs. Melody Paudyal, Vice President Mrs. Premit Lepcha, General Secretary Mr. Yogesh Thapa Mangar, Co-Secretary Mrs. Manju Rai, Treasurer Mrs. Diksha Pradhan, Co-Treasurer Mrs. Deepika Thakuri, Advisors Mrs. Rekha Chhetri, Mrs. Disha Rai, Mrs. Savita Rai, Mrs. Nirjala Khawas, Mr. Pasang Tshiring Bhutia (Patrons) and Mr. Tashi Dorje Sherpa (Working President). There are 1100 students got Black Belt earlier. Its now recorded five Students have obtained Black Belt under Kalimpong District Taekwondo Academy. They are: Shriyas Thapa Mangar, Satbhik Limbu, Dhriti Rai, Dikki Bhutia, Ashma Lama.