Mahendra Karki- Graceful in Life and Football
Mahendra Karki was an exceptional talent. He was a born sportsman and was a wonderful footballer. He played in half a dozen Santosh Trophy tournaments representing Sikkim along with many other national level tournaments, but unfortunately his life was cut short when he met with an accident on 2nd of January 2011 in Gangtok. He was just 31 years old when he left this world.
Born to Mr Hari Kumar Karki and Mrs Purnima Karki on 30th January 1981 at Gangtok. Mahendra started playing football from an early age. He was admitted to Tashi Namgyal Academy in 1986 where his football skills started to sharpen even more. He was inducted into the Sports Authority of India in 1995. During thosedays TNA was one of the SAI centers. Lt. Mr Manas Chakraborty was the SAI appointed football coach and under him Mahendra started to flourish. He was a regular member of the school football team and participated in number of tournaments both at the state and the national level. In the All India Inter Public School Football Tournament held at Raipur in 2000 Mahendra was awarded the Highest Scorer Trophy.
Mahendra was a regular member of the Sikkim state team as well. He played for Sikkim in the Under-16, U-19 and the senior national level (Santosh Trophy). He was a member of the Sikkim squad which finished as runners up in the 1998 Under-19 nationals held in Manipur. In 2004 he was part of the Sikkim team which reached the quarter final of the Santosh Trophy, held in Delhi,which is so far is one of the best performance by the state in the national championship. At the club level, he played for Gangtok Boys Club, Northerners, Sikkim Police and United Sikkim FC in several tournaments including the All India Governors’ Gold Cup, a premier football tournament hosted by the Sikkim Football Association (SFA).
After finishing school Mahendra went to Delhi and took admission in one of the premier colleges of the country, Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). His brother Gyanendra recalled, during the trails for admission in the college, Mahendra who used to always play as a side back or a striker suddenly changed his position to midfielder, the trail game started and Mahendra took the ball in midfield got past two opposing players and unleashed a stinging shot from 35 yards which went straight into the post leaving the goalkeeper a mere spectator. In the second half he scored a wonderful goal again. The coach of SRCC came and declared right there that Mahendra's admission is confirmed and he will also get a separate room in the hostel.
He was comfortable in all the sports and many TNA students might remember Mahendra darting across the field in 100 meter races leaving the other runners at a distance, during the school’s annual sports. He was very popular as he was easy going and always sharing a laugh with his friends, many junior boys wanted to emulate him and he also had lots of female fans and admirers. He looked at ease with the ball at his feet and was so graceful when he moved with it. During training sessions he used to nutmeg many with his trademark style of pushing the the ball with his right heals when someone went to tackle him from behind and for the less experienced ones he used to do the same but 2 times, after pushing the ball with his heals between the legs he used to pull it back again with his out-step when the attacker used to turn to win the ball.
Off the field Mahendra was fun loving and easy going person. He was called “Mahendu” by his family and friends. He always walked around with an endearing smile on his face. His death at such an early age shocked many and it was hard on his family specially his brother Gyanendra Karki who played along with him in many matches. He said “More than an elder brother he was like a friend to me, I can write a book about his memories with me, will miss him till my last breath.” Players like Mahendra Karki comes to this world once in a while. His graceful skills on the field, the goals he scored and the tournaments he won will always be remembered by the ones who saw him play. God took him away at a young age but not before he had left a mark on the football grounds of Sikkim and deep appreciation for his game from all. “Mahendu” will be missed forever but his memories will never fade.
(Originally published in Summit Times, Gangtok but here I have added a few more lines)
Born to Mr Hari Kumar Karki and Mrs Purnima Karki on 30th January 1981 at Gangtok. Mahendra started playing football from an early age. He was admitted to Tashi Namgyal Academy in 1986 where his football skills started to sharpen even more. He was inducted into the Sports Authority of India in 1995. During thosedays TNA was one of the SAI centers. Lt. Mr Manas Chakraborty was the SAI appointed football coach and under him Mahendra started to flourish. He was a regular member of the school football team and participated in number of tournaments both at the state and the national level. In the All India Inter Public School Football Tournament held at Raipur in 2000 Mahendra was awarded the Highest Scorer Trophy.
Mahendra was a regular member of the Sikkim state team as well. He played for Sikkim in the Under-16, U-19 and the senior national level (Santosh Trophy). He was a member of the Sikkim squad which finished as runners up in the 1998 Under-19 nationals held in Manipur. In 2004 he was part of the Sikkim team which reached the quarter final of the Santosh Trophy, held in Delhi,which is so far is one of the best performance by the state in the national championship. At the club level, he played for Gangtok Boys Club, Northerners, Sikkim Police and United Sikkim FC in several tournaments including the All India Governors’ Gold Cup, a premier football tournament hosted by the Sikkim Football Association (SFA).
After finishing school Mahendra went to Delhi and took admission in one of the premier colleges of the country, Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). His brother Gyanendra recalled, during the trails for admission in the college, Mahendra who used to always play as a side back or a striker suddenly changed his position to midfielder, the trail game started and Mahendra took the ball in midfield got past two opposing players and unleashed a stinging shot from 35 yards which went straight into the post leaving the goalkeeper a mere spectator. In the second half he scored a wonderful goal again. The coach of SRCC came and declared right there that Mahendra's admission is confirmed and he will also get a separate room in the hostel.
He was comfortable in all the sports and many TNA students might remember Mahendra darting across the field in 100 meter races leaving the other runners at a distance, during the school’s annual sports. He was very popular as he was easy going and always sharing a laugh with his friends, many junior boys wanted to emulate him and he also had lots of female fans and admirers. He looked at ease with the ball at his feet and was so graceful when he moved with it. During training sessions he used to nutmeg many with his trademark style of pushing the the ball with his right heals when someone went to tackle him from behind and for the less experienced ones he used to do the same but 2 times, after pushing the ball with his heals between the legs he used to pull it back again with his out-step when the attacker used to turn to win the ball.
Off the field Mahendra was fun loving and easy going person. He was called “Mahendu” by his family and friends. He always walked around with an endearing smile on his face. His death at such an early age shocked many and it was hard on his family specially his brother Gyanendra Karki who played along with him in many matches. He said “More than an elder brother he was like a friend to me, I can write a book about his memories with me, will miss him till my last breath.” Players like Mahendra Karki comes to this world once in a while. His graceful skills on the field, the goals he scored and the tournaments he won will always be remembered by the ones who saw him play. God took him away at a young age but not before he had left a mark on the football grounds of Sikkim and deep appreciation for his game from all. “Mahendu” will be missed forever but his memories will never fade.
(Originally published in Summit Times, Gangtok but here I have added a few more lines)
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