Ong Lepcha
{{Short description|Indian footballer (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ong Lepcha
| image =
| fullname = Ong Tshering Lepcha
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|4|14|df=y}}{{cite web|title=Ong Lepcha|url=https://www.thefinalball.com/jogador.php?id=114579|work=FootballZZ|accessdate=22 October 2012}}
| birth_place = Dzongu, Sikkim, India
| height =
| currentclub = Sikkim Himalayan
| clubnumber = 13
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 =
| clubs1 = Churchill Brothers
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2009
| clubs2 = Indian Nationals
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2010
| clubs3 = Bengal Mumbai
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 2010
| clubs4 = → Kenkre (loan)
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 = 2012
| clubs5 = United Sikkim
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| years6 = 2012–2013
| clubs6 = Air India
| caps6 = 11
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2015–
| clubs7 = Gangtok Himalayan
| caps7 =
| goals7 =
| nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 = India U16
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
| nationalyears2 =
| nationalteam2 = India U19
| nationalcaps2 =
| nationalgoals2 =
| pcupdate =
| ntupdate =
}}
Ong Tshering Lepcha (born 14 April 1988 in Dzongu, Sikkim) is an Indian footballer who plays as a forward for Sikkimese Gangtok Himalayan SC.{{cite web|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/united-sikkim-fc-pull-off-spectacular-win-crucial-sikkim-premier-league-match.html|title=United Sikkim FC pull off spectacular win in crucial Sikkim Premier League match|last=NE NOW NEWS|first=11:14 am|date=19 August 2018|access-date=15 April 2022|website=nenow.in|publisher=North East Now|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415142201/https://nenow.in/north-east-news/united-sikkim-fc-pull-off-spectacular-win-crucial-sikkim-premier-league-match.html|archive-date=15 April 2022}}
Career
=Early career=
Lepcha started his footballing career with Churchill Brothers S.C. on the I-League, however in 2007 Lepcha suffered a right knee injury after a harsh 50/50 tackle in a pre-season warm-up match.{{cite web|title=In-waiting Bhaichung: Ong Tshering Lepcha- Coming back to form|url=http://isikkim.com/2011-06-in-waiting-bhaichung-ong-tshering-lepcha-coming-back-to-form-145/|work=ISikkim|accessdate=22 October 2012}} As a result of the injury Lepcha was forced to sit-out of football for six months. After spending time getting treatment in Mumbai Lepcha flew back to Goa to spend time at the club, off the field. After six months on the side-lines Lepcha moved to Kolkata where he began his rehabilitation.
After getting fully healed and released by Churchill Brothers Lepcha joined Indian Nationals FC of the I-League 2nd Division in 2009. After spending one season at the club Lepcha signed for Bengal Mumbai FC who also play in the I-League 2nd Division but got loaned out to Kenkre FC for the 2010 I-League 2nd Division. Lepcha then joined United Sikkim F.C. also of the I-League 2nd Division for a season and in his first season with the club, won them promotion to the I-League.{{cite web|title=Indian Football: Transfer Season 2012/13 - Version 1|url=http://arunfoot.blogspot.com/2012/08/indian-football-transfer-season-201213.html|work=Arunfoot|accessdate=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703003053/http://arunfoot.blogspot.com/2012/08/indian-football-transfer-season-201213.html|archive-date=3 July 2013|url-status=dead}}
=Air India=
Lepcha signed for Air India FC during the summer of 2012 and made his debut for the club on 26 August 2012 against Delhi United FC in the 2012 Durand Cup.{{cite web|title=Convincing win for Air India|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/article3825715.ece?css=print|work=The Hindu|accessdate=21 October 2012}} Ong Lepcha then helped Air India to win the tournament on 1 September 2012 when Air India defeated Dodsal F.C. in the final of the Durand Cup in which was Lepcha's first ever championship as a professional.{{cite news|title=Air India win Durand Cup|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Air-India-win-Durand-Cup/articleshow/16160571.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103124019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-02/top-stories/33548200_1_durand-cup-dodsal-mumbai-air-india|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|work=The Times of India|date=2 September 2012 |access-date=21 October 2012}} Lepcha then made his I-League debut for Air India on 7 October 2012 against Prayag United S.C. at the Salt Lake Stadium in which Lepcha played 54 minutes before being replaced by Abhishek Ambedkar; Air India lost the match 5–1.{{cite web|title=Prayag United 5-1 Air India: Ranti Martins' hat-trick grounds the Airmen|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/93651/prayag-united-vs-air-india/report|publisher=Goal.com|access-date=22 October 2012}}
International
Career statistics
=Club=
Statistics accurate as of 27 March 2013
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|Federation Cup !colspan="2"|Durand Cup !colspan="2"|AFC !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps
!Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||||
| rowspan="1"| Air India
|11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| colspan="2" | Career total
!11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Air India FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepcha, Ong}}
Category:Indian men's footballers
Category:People from Mangan district
Category:Footballers from Sikkim
Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen
Category:Churchill Brothers FC Goa players
Category:United Sikkim FC players
Category:India men's youth international footballers