Praggya qualified for the world championship after winning the gold medal in the Youth B 52Kg division in the fifth MMA India Federation national championship, which took place in Madhya Pradesh from May 19 to May 22 of this year.
Digital Desk: Praggya P
Khanikar becomes the first athelete from Northeast India to win a Medal in the
Prestigious IMMAF( International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) World MMA
championship.
A glorious occasion for Northeast Assam and for our country, India. In the Youth B Division 48 Kg Category of the IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) Youth World MMA Championship 2022, which was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from August 17 to 21, Praggya P Khanikar, an Assamese woman, won a bronze medal. The event had more than 500 participants from 48 different nations.
Praggya
defeated her international opponents in three close matches to win the award.
She suffered an arm injury while competing against American Asia Rialmo in the
opening round. She battled Liubov Karaush and African Continental BJJ Champion
Nuha Shah with a wounded arm in the second and third rounds, respectively.
Despite being hurt, her spirit was high as she held the Indian flag, fought bravely, and never gave up.
MMA Federation of UAE
organized the competition under the auspices of the International Mixed Martial
Arts Federation (IMMAF), the largest MMA organization in the world with 126
member countries. IMMAF is also the only MMA organization to have partnered with
the Ultimate Fighting Championship and to be recognized as a signatory by the
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Praggya, 14, comes from
Guwahati's Kamrup Metro and studies martial arts at the Drona Academy of
Martial Arts with head instructor Akash Mathew, who is also the organization's
founder and general secretary (UAMMAA). She is presently enrolled in Little
Flower School in Hatigaon's 9th Standard.
Praggya qualified for the
world championship after winning the gold medal in the Youth B 52Kg division in
the fifth MMA India Federation national championship, which took place in
Madhya Pradesh from May 19 to May 22 of this year.
With affiliates in more than
28 states and three union territories, the MMA India Federation is the official
and overseeing authority for the sport of MMA in India. It also boasts the
highest concentration of referees, judges, and instructors that have received
international certification.
