Karate Do Association of Bengal Meets Hon’ble Sports Minister Dr. Indranil Khan; Discusses Roadmap for Sports Development and Athlete Empowerment

A delegation of the Karate Do Association of Bengal (KAB), led by its President, Hanshi Premjit Sen, called on Hon’ble Youth Services and Sports Minister Dr. Indranil Khan to discuss the future development of karate and sports in West Bengal.

The meeting focused on strengthening grassroots sports, creating greater opportunities for athletes, and promoting karate as a powerful medium for youth empowerment, discipline, and nation-building. The delegation also shared its vision for expanding sports participation and nurturing future champions across the state.

Dr. Indranil Khan expressed his commitment towards the growth of sports and the welfare of athletes. His positive outlook and encouraging response were highly appreciated by the delegation.

Speaking after the meeting, Hanshi Premjit Sen stated, “The Hon’ble Minister’s vision and commitment towards sports development have inspired confidence among the sporting community. We look forward to working together to create more opportunities for young athletes and to take West Bengal sports to greater heights.”

Hanshi Premjit Sen is regarded as one of the leading karate administrators in India. As President of the Karate Do Association of Bengal and Chairman of the Karate India Organisation, he has played a significant role in promoting karate across the country and creating opportunities for thousands of athletes. Under his leadership, KAB has grown into one of the largest karate organizations in India, representing nearly 8 lakh karate practitioners and organizing numerous state, national, and international events.

The delegation also briefed the Hon’ble Minister about the forthcoming 10th International Karate Championship – Indian Challenger’s Cup 2026, one of South Asia’s most prestigious karate events, which is expected to attract participants from across India and several foreign countries.

The Karate Do Association of Bengal reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Government of West Bengal to strengthen the sporting ecosystem, support athletes, and inspire the next generation of champions.

Kolkata: In a proud moment for West Bengal and the nation, renowned karate administrator, educator, and international referee Hanshi Premjit Sen represented India at the prestigious 22nd Asian Karate Championship held in Bali, Indonesia.

The championship brought together Asia’s finest karate athletes, coaches, referees, and officials, making it one of the most significant events in the continental karate calendar. Hanshi Sen’s presence at this elite championship not only reflects his personal accomplishments but also underscores the growing recognition of Indian officials within the international karate community.

With over three decades of dedicated service to martial arts, Hanshi Premjit Sen has played a pivotal role in the development and promotion of karate across India. Throughout his distinguished journey, he has nurtured numerous national and international champions while serving the sport with unwavering commitment as an educator, referee, administrator, and mentor. His invaluable contributions have earned him immense respect and recognition within both the Indian and global karate fraternity.

Speaking on the occasion, Hanshi Premjit Sen said:

“Representing India at the Asian level is always a matter of immense pride and honour. Every opportunity to serve the sport on such a prestigious platform comes with great responsibility. I remain committed to contributing towards the growth of karate and creating greater opportunities for Indian athletes, coaches, and officials on the international stage.”

His participation at the 22nd Asian Karate Championship is a matter of great pride for India and reflects the country’s growing presence and influence in international karate. His representation at such a prestigious event highlights the trust and confidence reposed in Indian technical officials by both the Asian Karate Federation and the World Karate Federation.

Over the years, Hanshi Premjit Sen has become one of the most respected figures in Indian karate, consistently working towards excellence, transparency, and the overall development of the sport. His continued involvement at the highest levels of international competition serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and officials across the country.

From Bengal to Bali, Hanshi Premjit Sen continues to uphold the spirit of Indian karate with pride, dedication, and distinction, bringing honour to both his state and the nation.

Kolkata, 28 June 2026

The Karate Do Association of Bengal (KAB) once again demonstrated why West Bengal has emerged as one of India’s strongest karate powerhouses with the spectacular success of the 28th West Bengal State Karate Do Championship 2026, held on 27th and 28th June at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, Kolkata.

Recognized by the Bengal Olympic Association (BOA) and affiliated with the Karate India Organisation (KIO), KAB organized the championship on an unprecedented scale, bringing together 1,200 karatekas representing affiliated district associations from every corner of West Bengal. The event was efficiently conducted by 70 internationally qualified WKF, AKF and KIO Referees and Judges, maintaining world-class standards throughout the competition.

The championship was successfully led by Hanshi Premjit Sen, President of KAB, and Hanshi Joydeb Mondal, General Secretary of KAB, whose dedicated leadership continues to elevate the standard of karate in the state.

Adding immense prestige to the occasion were distinguished guests Sri Kamalesh Chatterjee, Vice President of the Bengal Olympic Association, and Sri Kamal Maitra, Treasurer of the Bengal Olympic Association, who congratulated the players and praised KAB for its outstanding contribution to sports development in West Bengal.

One of the most inspiring moments of the championship was the presentation of ₹1,62,000 in cash rewards to 46 Bengal karatekas who won medals at the KIO National Karate Championships in Delhi and Uttarakhand. This unique initiative reflects KAB’s philosophy of honouring excellence and motivating athletes to pursue greater success at national and international levels.

Hanshi Premjit Sen – The Driving Force Behind Bengal’s Karate Revolution

The remarkable rise of karate in West Bengal is closely associated with the visionary leadership of Hanshi Premjit Sen. Through decades of tireless dedication, he has transformed KAB into one of India’s most respected karate organizations by expanding the sport across the state, developing district units, producing national and international champions, training qualified referees and coaches, and creating opportunities for young athletes to compete at the highest levels.

His commitment extends beyond organizing championships. He has consistently worked to ensure that deserving players receive recognition, encouragement and financial support, creating an environment where talent can flourish irrespective of background.

Message from Hanshi Premjit Sen

“The Karate Do Association of Bengal has always stood beside its players, and that commitment will never change. Every athlete is a member of our KAB family. We will continue to provide opportunities, encouragement and every possible support so that our players can proudly represent West Bengal and India with honour and dignity.”

Hanshi Joydeb Mondal Pays Tribute

Expressing his gratitude, Hanshi Joydeb Mondal, General Secretary of KAB, acknowledged the extraordinary contribution of Hanshi Premjit Sen.

“Hanshi Premjit Sen is the visionary who transformed karate in West Bengal. His selfless dedication, leadership and unwavering belief in our athletes have taken Bengal to remarkable heights. Thousands of players have benefited from his guidance, and today’s success is a reflection of his lifelong commitment to the development of karate. We remain united in our mission to create even greater opportunities for every player.”

The championship concluded with the felicitation of all medal winners who brought pride to West Bengal at the KIO National Karate Championships. Their achievements were celebrated before coaches, officials, parents and distinguished guests, reinforcing KAB’s commitment to recognizing excellence and inspiring future champions.

The Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners were honoured for their outstanding performances, reflecting the exceptional talent emerging from West Bengal’s karate fraternity.

The overwhelming success of the 28th West Bengal State Karate Do Championship 2026 once again proved that the Karate Do Association of Bengal is not merely organizing competitions—it is building a movement dedicated to discipline, excellence, character development and international sporting success.

With visionary leadership, dedicated officials, committed coaches and thousands of aspiring karatekas, West Bengal continues to set new benchmarks for karate in India, carrying forward the spirit of perseverance, unity and sporting excellence.

Kolkata: Players of the Karate Do Association of Bengal (KAB), trained under Hanshi Premjit Sen, delivered a notable performance at the 5th KIO National Karate Do Championship 2026 for Under-21, Senior and Para-Karate categories, held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, from 26 February to 1 March 2026, winning two Gold and two Bronze medals.

Hanshi Premjit Sen has been associated with the development of karate in West Bengal for more than a decade. Through regular training and preparation for competitive events, he has worked with a number of young practitioners who have gone on to represent the state in national championships over the years. In addition to training athletes, he has also been involved with karate activities as a coach, referee and administrator, contributing to the organisation of tournaments and the development of the sport in the state.

The championship was conducted under the leadership of Hanshi Bharat Sharma, President of Karate India Organisation, and was attended by dignitaries including Shahnawaz Hussain, former Union Cabinet Minister, Dr. Narendra Dhruv Batra, former Member of the International Olympic Committee and former President of the Indian Olympic Association, and Kuldeep Vats, President of the Delhi Olympic Association.

Medal Winners from West Bengal:

🥇 Rupkatha Dutta – Gold Medal (Under-21 Female Kata)
🥇 Sohini Chatterjee – Gold Medal (Under-21 Female Kumite −50 kg)
🥉 Shivam Poddar – Bronze Medal (Senior Male Kumite −50 kg)
🥉 Debanjali Karmakar, Aishika Ghosh & Sneha Mondal – Bronze Medal (Senior Female Team Kata)

Before the championship, the players and coaches representing the Karate Do Association of Bengal received support related to their participation. This included medical insurance coverage of Rs. 2,00,000 for each player, Rs. 3,000 provided to each of the 25 players, Rs. 7,000 provided to each of the three coaches, payment of participation fees for all players, and tracksuits for both players and coaches.

Following the championship, Hanshi Premjit Sen, President of the Karate Do Association of Bengal, said:
“The players prepared with sincerity and discipline for this championship. Their performance reflects the effort they have put into training over a long period. It is encouraging to see them represent West Bengal at the national level, and we hope they will continue to work with the same dedication in future competitions.”

He also stated that the association will felicitate the medal winners with Rs. 10,000 for each Gold medal and Rs. 5,000 for each Bronze medal.

Hanshi Joydeb Mondal, General Secretary of KAB, said:
“We are proud of our players who had shown immense grit and determination for this event. KAB had in the past supported all the players and will continue this in the future too. For KAB, there should not be any financial burden for the immensely talented players to showcase their talent at any level.”

The results once again reflect the continued participation of West Bengal athletes in national karate competitions and the ongoing efforts to support the development of the sport in the state.

The 45-day long Senior Karate National Coaching Camp, organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, was successfully concluded at Lucknow.

Elite players of the Indian Karate Squad participated in this prestigious national camp.

We are proud to announce that Ms. Debanjali Karmokar, representing the Karate Do Association of Bengal, was an esteemed member of the National Squad.

Heartiest congratulations to all the dedicated Karate athletes, coaches, and officials for the successful completion of this intensive national coaching programme and for their unwavering commitment towards excellence in Indian Karate.

All members are requested to read the document carefully.

Karate Do Association of Bengal (KAB) feels proud to inform one and all that, West Bengal Police is now an affiliated member of KAB.

This feat is only possible due to our very hard-working and dynamic President of KAB, Hanshi Premjit Sen. His tireless efforts to popularize Karate all over has reaped good results. We all are proud of him and his unwavering contributions to this game.

Not to forget, Hanshi Joydeb Mondal (General Secretary of KAB), who whole-heartedly supports Hanshi Premjit Sen.

KAB has added another feather in their cap. Keep showering your love and support always.