Shillong, July 13: Meghalaya karatekas Gideon Tympuin and Daniel Dabiangbha Warjri have been selected to represent India at the 10th Cadet, Junior, U-21 and Senior South Asian Karate Championship 2026, scheduled to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July 15 to 19.
Gideon will compete in the Men’s U-21 Individual Kata event, while Daniel will represent the country in the Boys’ Junior Individual Kumite (-68kg) category.
Their selection comes on the back of impressive performances at the national level. Gideon clinched the gold medal for Meghalaya at the 5th KIO Senior & U-21 National Karate Championship held in New Delhi earlier this year, while Daniel secured a silver medal in the Junior Individual Kumite (-68kg) category at the 5th KIO Sub-Junior, Cadet & Junior National Karate Championship in Dehradun in June.
Before their departure, the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association (AMKA) organised a send-off programme on Saturday, where the two athletes were felicitated with tokens of appreciation.
AMKA General Secretary Ksan Kupar Warjri expressed confidence in the duo’s ability to perform well on the international stage. “We are very positive that they will come out with flying colours. We wish them the very best and hope they have a safe journey and return home with medals,” Warjri told Meghalaya Sports on Monday.
He added that both karatekas have undergone rigorous preparations with support from the government, hence the expectations are high.
Warjri noted that this will be the first time both Gideon and Daniel will represent India, describing their selection as a significant milestone for karate in Meghalaya.
While female karatekas from Meghalaya have represented India in recent years, the selection of Gideon Tympuin and Daniel Dabiangbha Warjri marks the state’s return to the Indian men’s contingent after a long gap.
Meghalaya has previously enjoyed success at the South Asian Karate Championship. In 2019, Wandahunshisha Mawblei won the girls’ cadet individual kumite (-54kg) gold medal after defeating her Sri Lankan opponent at the 5th South Asian Karate Championship in Dhaka.
Last year, Kynjailin Lyngdoh Mawnai earned a place in the Indian team for the 9th South Asian Karate Championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after her medal-winning performance at the national championships. She represented India in the Female U-21 Individual Kumite (-50kg) category and won a bronze medal.
AMKA congratulated Gideon and Daniel on their selection and wished them success in Dhaka, expressing confidence that the duo would make both Meghalaya and India proud with their performances.
