Bhaichung Bhutia Sikkilnese    Footballer of International fame

To know that India's !mero uno in football is on ofSikkim who is the 'st Indian to play in a

ropean Club as a pro­sional itself makesery Sikkimese proud. aichung Bhutia is anusehold name in I~kim nay in India and '"ery youngster's dream ~,to emulate the feats I .d accomplishments ofis ace footballer.   Born on 15th June~ I76, to Mrs. and Mr. Inam Topden at Tinkitam,th Sikkim. At age  Bhaichung Bhutia receiving the Arjuna Award from the President of India,

laichung's on field skill for                Mr. K.R. Narayanan at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi

)tball earned him a SAl Scholarship at the Tashi N amgyal Academy, Gangtok. His spectacular talent earned lrels for his school as he excelled in all the Public School Tournaments, and the Subroto Cup, in particular. Iring his school days he was also selected for the Gangtok based Boys Club managed by his mentor Karma utia and coached by Thupden Rabgyal. Besides his first love, football, Bhaichung also represented his 1001 in Badminton, basketball and athletics. Unlike other prodigies Bhaichung's blaze to glory has pro­:ssed steadily. In 1992 he donned the Indian colours for the first time at the under 16 Sub Junior Tournament

lacca. The same year he also represented his home State Sikkim at the prestigious Governor's Gold Cup mament where he demolished the likes of George Telegraph and Md. Sporting almost single handedly, In

semi fmals Sikkim lost to mighty Mohun Bagan in the extra time.

In early 1993 Mr. Bhaskar Ganguly and Mr. Prasun Banerjee, stalwarts of East Bengal Club, and loubtedly two oflndia's best footballers, contacted Mr. Karma Bhutia for Bhaichung's debut into Calcutta >tball. As he was just sixteen years old, Bhaichung's parents left the decision solely to Mr. Karma BhiItia .~ then decided to enrol him with the East Bengal Club, a decision that changed the Indian football scenario. football fans will remember Bhaichung's spectacular back volley at the Durand Cup in November, 1993 'ich took East Bengal to the finals. Old timers compared this to the uncanny similarity to Shyam Thapa's k volley for Mohun Bagan against Mafatlals in the 1978 Durand Cup.

      Alongwith Bhaichung's rise to fame, Sikkim too has been favoured with the limelight visitors to this tiny

   exquisite Himalayan State who invariably ask for his haunts. His proficiency with the ball has earned him

         lames such as 'Wiz Kid', 'Crisis Man', 'Man with the Golden Boot', 'Tinkitam Express', 'Wonder Kid',

       Wonder', 'Scorpion' and many others. The celebrated R.K. Laxman's cartoon ofBhaichung carried the tion 'Boy, Oh Boy'

Chronological Professional recol In 1994 Bhaichung was selected for the Jmrie

team for the tournament in Bahrain.

In 1995 he donned the senior India colour! SAARC Tournament and the Nehru Cup. His sP{ lar headers against Sri Lanka won him the admiral Dale Tempest of Prime Sports who referred to ] 'the little big star'. His magnificent goal against U

in the Nehru Cup, outstanding display in the Fed Cup and the Santosh Trophy will remain legen

In 1996 he was voted the Indian Player of the by Indian sports journalists. For the 1996-97 seJswitched over the JCT team of Punjab wherealon,Vijayan, and created havoc for all the other top ch the country.

In the 1997-98 season he re-entered Calcutt Mecca oflndian Soccer, with the familiar maroo gold colours of East Bengal, and football in Bengal once again brought to life by his brilliance.

In 1998-99, at the SAFF Cup in Goa, he was once again voted the Most Valuable Player and was the highest scorer. His brilliance and superb goals for India in the semi-finals and the finals will be remembered both by fans and football aficionados.

In 1999 he was voted Asian player for the month of May . In April 1999 he ventured into Europe ~. the first Indian to play in the European League and the second Asian to play in the English League. He played for Bury F.C. in the English League for a couple of years.

Bhaichung Bhutia was presented the prestigious Arjuna

Award for Football by the then President of India, Mr. K.R.

Narayanan on 1 st September, 1999.

The year he was voted the Most Valuable Player in the .Bhaichung executing his famous" Bicycle Kick"  Cup at Kathmandu, while India lifted the cup.