Shillong, Sept 18: Meghalaya’s shuttlers ended their campaign in the semifinals of the North East Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship 2026 at the JN Indoor Stadium here on Friday, with none of the home players able to progress to the finals.
The four-day championship is being organised by the Meghalaya State Badminton Association (MSBA) with the support of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
Despite missing out on places in the finals, the semifinal appearances ensured that each of Meghalaya’s players involved in the last-four stage will return with a bronze medal. The results also provide valuable experience to the shuttlers as they prepare for the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya will host next year.
Elsarica Umdor was the first Meghalaya player in semifinal action, taking on Assam’s Avikaa Borgohain in the women’s singles. Borgohain controlled the contest to win 15-7, 15-10 and book her place in the final.
In the U-19 girls’ singles, fourth seed Netania T Tariang faced Assam’s Noimikha Saikia but was unable to find a way past her opponent, who took the match 15-3, 15-8.
Netania returned to the court in the U-19 mixed doubles, partnering with Gavin Kharbuki. The Meghalaya pair put up a fight but lost 15-10, 15-10 to Mizoram’s Vanlalpekhlua and Lalrinhlui Hmar.
Meghalaya’s final semifinal combination was Gitchiak Bregim A Sangma and Sonnal Joshi in the mixed doubles. The local pair made a positive start against Manipur’s M Hemam and P Konjengbam, but the Manipur duo recovered to win 15-10, 15-6.
The championship has brought together established senior shuttlers and promising U-19 players from across the Northeast, providing the region’s emerging players with an opportunity to compete against high-level opposition.
Although Meghalaya’s players will not feature in the finals, they will have an opportunity to watch the remaining matches from the gallery on Saturday and gain further exposure from the finalists across the different categories.
The championship will conclude on Saturday, with Meghalaya’s Director General of Police, Idashisha Nongrang, set to attend the closing ceremony as chief guest.
