Shillong, June 15: As Meghalaya prepares to host the 39th National Games in 2027, the state has taken another step towards broadening its sporting ecosystem and building a competitive contingent with the formation of the Meghalaya Triathlon Association (MTA). Triathlon, which combines swimming, cycling and running into a single continuous event, is widely regarded as one of the most demanding endurance sports.
Athletes, coaches and sports enthusiasts from diverse disciplines came together at the Rotary Club in Shillong on Monday to formally form the Meghalaya Triathlon Association (MTA), which aims to promote triathlon in the state and prepare the next generation of athletes for success on the national stage.
The meeting also saw the election of the association’s first executive committee, which will oversee the development and promotion of triathlon across the state. Renowned ultra-marathon runner Rephica Pde was elected president of the association, making MTA one of the few sports bodies in the state to be headed by a woman athlete.
The newly elected office bearers are: L.S. Singha (vice-president), Shivani Pde (general secretary), Badon Singh Tham and Shaikupar Kharshiing (joint secretaries), A. Lyngdoh (treasurer), Larisa Marpan and Simon Khyriem (executive members), James Perry (advisor), and John F. Kharshiing, working president of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA), as honorary advisor.
Following the election, members discussed the roadmap for developing triathlon in Meghalaya, with particular focus on the upcoming National Games. Participants agreed that the 2027 National Games present a historic opportunity for Meghalaya to showcase its sporting potential and establish itself as a competitive force in triathlon.
A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to launch a statewide talent identification programme aimed at discovering and nurturing promising athletes. The association plans to organise selection trials, develop structured training programmes and provide technical support to athletes across the three disciplines of triathlon – swimming, cycling and running.
Speaking on the occasion, MTA president Rephica Pde said the formation of the association marked the beginning of a long-term journey to build a sustainable sporting culture around triathlon. She emphasised that just like triathlon which “demands endurance across three disciplines: swimming, cycling and running”, the building of this association will require the same qualities “patience in the water of uncertainty, endurance through the long ride of growth, and the final stretch of bringing our athletes to the start line ready to compete.”
Pde outlined the association’s immediate priorities, which include identifying talent across districts, establishing training infrastructure, engaging qualified coaches and creating a competitive calendar to provide athletes with regular racing opportunities. She also announced that selection trials for the National Games would be conducted in the near future. “This association belongs to all of us. Let us work together, with discipline and heart, to put Meghalaya on the map of Indian triathlon,” she added.
Pde has represented Meghalaya in several ultra-marathons and long-distance races across the country. She is best known for her performances at the Khardungla Challenge (72 km), where she secured back-to-back podium finishes in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first woman to achieve the feat at the world’s highest ultra-marathon.
General secretary Shivani Pde echoed the vision of creating a strong pipeline of athletes ahead of the National Games. “The National Games 2027 presents a historic opportunity for Meghalaya. Our mission now is to find talent, develop this talent, and create champions. We want athletes from every corner of the state to dream big, train hard, and believe that they belong on the national stage. When Meghalaya stands on the start line in 2027, we want the rest of India to see the passion, resilience, and fighting spirit of our people,” she said.
The association also appealed to schools, colleges, aspiring athletes, fitness enthusiasts and the wider sporting community to join its efforts to develop triathlon in the state.
