Shillong, Sep 16: The North East Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship 2026 got underway at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Sports Complex, Shillong, on Wednesday, with more than 250 shuttlers from all eight northeastern states taking part.
Organised by the Meghalaya State Badminton Association (MSBA) under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), the four-day championship will continue till September 19. The tournament has returned to Meghalaya for the first time since 2016 and will serve as the qualifying event for the team competitions of the 39th National Games 2027, to be hosted by Meghalaya.
Players from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are competing in the championship, with intense action across categories on the opening day.
In his keynote address, Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said the return of the championship to Shillong was particularly significant as the state prepares to host the National Games next year.
“We do understand that champion is created from this kind of platform,” Shylla said, stressing the importance of giving young athletes opportunities to compete against players from other states.
Shylla said Meghalaya’s Sports budget has increased from around ₹40 crore eight to nine years ago to ₹844 crore, with the government focusing on infrastructure, competition platforms and opportunities for athletes.
He also highlighted the increased prize money, with National Games gold medallists now receiving ₹2 lakh, as well as the Meghalaya Outstanding Direct Appointment Policy, which provides direct government employment to state athletes who win medals at major sporting events.
According to Shylla, athletes appointed under the policy can receive a grace period of up to 10 years to pursue higher education or continue their sporting careers before joining their appointed posts.
With preparations underway for the National Games, he said a dedicated stipend would be provided to the final selected Meghalaya team to support their training. He also announced that special provisions would be created under the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) to provide medical care and support for sports-related injuries.
The tournament was formally declared open by Shylla, following which the Meghalaya badminton contingent took an oath led by its captain.
Ace Assam shuttler Ashmita Chaliha, the first Indian to win the Korea Masters title, also welcomed the return of the tournament to Shillong.
Chaliha said the region was seeing a rise in grassroots badminton talent but stressed the need for structured training, grooming and exposure to high-level competition to help young players progress towards the elite circuit.
Addressing Meghalaya’s athletes, she urged them to focus on their performance rather than the pressure of winning or losing.
“Enjoy what you play, give your absolute best on the court without taking the pressure of winning or losing, and the results will naturally follow,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mizoram’s H. Lalthazuala, a former U-17 national champion and winner of the Men’s Singles title at the Cameroon International 2026, expressed confidence in Team Mizoram’s chances in the championship.
He also welcomed the preparations for next year’s National Games and praised the support being extended to athletes by the Meghalaya government.
The hosting of the four-day championship also provides Meghalaya with an opportunity to showcase its preparedness for the National Games. With more than 250 athletes and officials participating, the event offers practical experience in managing a major inter-state sporting competition ahead of next year’s national event.
Among those present at the inauguration were Omar Rashid, Convener of the BAI Tournament Committee; Alertson Nongbri, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs; P. B. War Nongbri, Deputy Director; K. Passah, Assistant Director; Dr C. O. Rangad, Senior Vice President of MSBA; Rajesh Kamal, General Secretary of the Meghalaya Badminton Association; and Gautam Mahanta, Treasurer of the Assam Badminton Association, along with officials from allied departments.
