Shillong, July 24: More than 200 shuttlers from across Meghalaya are competing in the 2nd Badminton Promotional Tournament 2026, which got underway in Shillong on Thursday with the objective of identifying and nurturing the state’s emerging badminton talent.
Organised by Badminton Promotion Group, Shillong with the support of the Meghalaya State Badminton Association, the two-day tournament features 23 events across multiple age categories, including Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, senior men’s and women’s singles, mixed doubles, and veterans’ competitions in the 75+ and 90+ categories.
Nearly 250 matches are scheduled to be played before the tournament concludes on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, the organisers said the championship was launched last year to provide young badminton players with greater competitive exposure and has quickly become an important fixture in the state’s badminton calendar.
“Meghalaya has immense talent in badminton. We introduced this promotional tournament last year, and this is now the second edition. Our aim is to promote the sport while giving players from different parts of the state, including Shillong, Tura and Ri-Bhoi, an opportunity to compete against one another,” an organiser said.
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Methodius Dkhar, who attended the event as the chief guest, congratulated the organisers for successfully conducting the second edition of the tournament and said such competitions would play a key role in preparing athletes for the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya will host in 2027.
“I congratulate the organisers for this wonderful initiative. As Meghalaya prepares to host the National Games, tournaments like these provide valuable match practice and help our athletes gain confidence. Several players competing here have already been selected to represent the state at the National Games, and I wish them every success,” he said.
Dkhar also praised the quality of play after watching several matches.
“It was fascinating to watch. I enjoy badminton, and although I may not know all the technical aspects of the game, I was impressed by the players’ skills, techniques and overall standard of competition. It was a great learning experience for me as well,” he added.
The tournament has gained added significance this year as several Meghalaya players are currently training under a national coach from Andhra Pradesh as part of the state’s preparations for the National Games. Organisers believe the championship will further sharpen the skills of the state’s promising shuttlers while strengthening the growth of badminton across Meghalaya.
