Wikipedia - Gangtok Himalayan SC
Sikkim Himalayan Sporting Club (sometimes known as Gangtok Himalayan) is an Indian professional football club based in Gangtok, Sikkim. The club usually participated in the I-League 2nd Division, then second tier of Indian football league system, and the Sikkim Premier Division League.
The club is also a frequent participant of the Sikkim Gold Cup, a premier club tournament in the state.
History
Formation and journey
Gangtok Himalayan FC (originally known as Sikkim Himalayan SC) was founded in 2012 in Gangtok, the capital city of the Indian state Sikkim, and affiliated with Sikkim Football Association (SFA). Since then, they have been participating in various domestic and amateur tournaments regionally. The club was founded by Tenzing Lamtha. In October 2014, Gangtok Himalayan participated in Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup and reached to the semi-finals, but their journey ended with a 2–1 defeat to ONGC FC. In September 2015, former India international Arjunan Shanta Kumar was appointed as manager of the club.
In January 2016, they were officially certified by the All India Football Federation to participate in the I-League 2nd Division, the second tier of football in India, after finishing 2nd in the Sikkim Premier Division League. This move began a new chapter for Gangtok-based side as they became one of first professional football clubs from the North East India. 2016 was the most successful season for Gangtok Himalayan, in which they participated in the I-League 2nd Division, Durand Cup, Sikkim Gold Cup and Sikkim Premier Division League. After finishing 2nd in the group A of the 2015–16 I-League 2nd Division, Gangtok Himalayan qualified for the 2015–16 I-League 2nd Division final round. There they finished as 5th and failed to qualify for the I-League.
In 2016 Durand Cup, the Himalayans finished 5th, behind Indian Navy in the group A with 6 points. In 2019, they reached to the final of 39th edition of the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup final defeating Royal FC Siliguri 3–1, but lost the title winning match to Mohammedan Sporting by 2–1 margin. In that year, Gangtok Himalayan lifted Independence Day Football Tournament trophy defeating Sikkim Aacraman FC via penalty shoot-out.
I-League fate
The All India Football Federation were all set to invite bids for vacant spots in the I-League and Gangtok-based Sikkim Himalayan was one of the front-runners to join, but it was not materialized.
2020–present
In 2020, Gangtok Himalayan went to Nepal for participating in the 18th Aaha! Rara Gold Cup, but their journey ended after a 3–0 defeat to Three Star Club in quarter-finals.
錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部在 2004 年首次參加印度足球乙級聯賽，並在 2006 年獲得冠軍，升入印度足球甲級聯賽。在印度足球甲級聯賽中，錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部表現不佳，並在 2008 年降級回印度足球乙級聯賽。
在 2010 年，錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部再次獲得印度足球乙級聯賽冠軍，升入印度足球甲級聯賽。然而，該俱樂部在 2012 年再次降級回印度足球乙級聯賽。
在 2014 年，錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部第三次獲得印度足球乙級聯賽冠軍，升入印度足球甲級聯賽。該俱樂部在 2016 年降級回印度足球乙級聯賽，但在 2018 年再次獲得冠軍，重返印度足球甲級聯賽。
錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部曾代表印度參加過亞洲足協盃。在 2006 年，該俱樂部在亞洲足協盃小組賽中獲得第二名，晉級淘汰賽。在淘汰賽中，錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部被來自香港的傑志體育俱樂部淘汰。
在 2014 年，錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部再次參加亞洲足協盃。在亞洲足協盃小組賽中，該俱樂部獲得第三名，未能晉級淘汰賽。
錫金喜馬拉雅體育俱樂部是印度足球乙級聯賽中最成功的俱樂部之一。該俱樂部曾三次獲得印度足球乙級聯賽冠軍，並曾代表印度參加過亞洲足協盃。