Meghalaya hosts North East Inter-State Badminton Championship ahead of National Games 2027

Shillong ( Vivek Ojha) : The North East Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship 2026 has returned to Meghalaya for the first time since 2016. The tournament serves as the official qualifying ground for the team events of the highly anticipated National Games 2027 in the state.

Underway at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Sports Complex, Shillong, the championship will continue till 19th September 2026. More than 250 top-tier shuttlers representing all eight Northeastern states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim have come together for the championship.

Wailadmiki Shylla, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya said that the return of this important championship to Shillong after ten long years arrives at a highly opportune moment, as Meghalaya prepares to host the 39th National Games next year. He added that the State witnessed a surge in the Sports budget from a mere ₹40 crore eight to nine years ago to a staggering ₹844 crore.

The objective of the funding is to provide better infrastructure, platforms, and opportunities for the youth, alongside a hike in prize money that now awards ₹2 lakh to National Games gold medallists. Furthermore, Shylla underscored the transformative Meghalaya Outstanding Direct Appointment Policy, which guarantees direct government jobs to State athletes who secure medals at major events.

The policy also allows athletes a grace period of up to ten years to pursue higher education or advance their sporting careers before taking up their appointed posts. Turning to National Games preparations, he confirmed that a dedicated stipend will be provided to the final selected team to support their ongoing training.

Beyond the competition, the successful hosting of the championship underscores a larger milestone for Meghalaya. As the State prepares to host the 39th National Games next year, hosting a premier regional event of this scale functions as a practical demonstration of Shillong’s operational readiness.