• Praggya brings laurels to the Northeast by bagging a gold medal in IMMAF World Youth MMA Championship

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    Praggya brings laurels to the Northeast by bagging a gold medal in IMMAF World Youth MMA Championship

    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.