Shillong, Sept 19: Assam dominated the individual events at the Yonex Sunrise North East Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship 2026, claiming five of the 10 gold medals on offer as the four-day regional championship concluded at the JN Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.
Mizoram and Manipur won two titles each, while Arunachal Pradesh claimed one. Assam had earlier completed a clean sweep of the four team championship titles, winning the men’s, women’s, U-19 boys’ and U-19 girls’ events.
The championship was 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.
The final day showcased the quality and depth of badminton in the Northeast, with the region’s leading players displaying speed, power, precision and quick reflexes across the different categories.
Meghalaya’s Director General of Police, Idashisha Nongrang, attended the closing ceremony as chief guest and was particularly impressed by the final match of the day, the men’s doubles final.
Congratulating the medallists and encouraging those who missed out, Nongrang said badminton requires considerable speed and stamina and noted the encouraging presence of talented players from across the Northeast.
The four-day championship brought together more than 270 shuttlers and officials representing the eight Northeastern states. The MSBA, with government support, successfully hosted the regional event in Shillong.
The finals began with Assam dominating the U-19 singles events. Gargi Saikia defeated teammate Noimikha Saikhia 15-3, 15-9 in the girls’ singles final, while Prangan Choudhury beat fellow Assam player Arnav Protim Borgohain 15-9, 15-10 to win the boys’ singles title.
Arunachal Pradesh claimed its only gold of the championship in the U-19 boys’ doubles. Manku Taku and Gyurmey Tseten defeated Mizoram’s Malsawmhlua and Vanlalhruaia Sailo 15-7, 10-15, 16-14 in a closely contested encounter.
Mizoram secured the U-19 girls’ doubles title through Lalrinhlui Hmar and Zoramthari Renthlei, who defeated Assam’s Avikaa Borgohain and Bhavishya Changmai 15-13, 13-15, 15-8.
The U-19 mixed doubles title also went to Mizoram, with Vanlalpekhlua and Lalrinhlui Hmar overcoming Manipur’s Truman Kalo and Konsam Gunjan 16-14, 15-11.
In the senior events, Manipur’s M Hemam and P Konjengbam won the mixed doubles title after defeating Assam’s Swarnaraj Bora and Bhavishya Changmai 15-10, 12-15, 15-8.
Assam’s Avikaa Borgohain claimed the women’s singles gold after a three-game battle against Mizoram’s Lalrinkimi, winning 15-11, 9-15, 15-12.
The men’s singles title also went to Assam, with Himanish Das recovering from a first-game defeat to beat teammate Orijit Chaliha 15-17, 15-9, 15-12.
Manipur added another gold in the women’s doubles, where M Kshetrimayum and SM Devi defeated Assam’s Bhavishya Changmai and Gargi Saikia 15-10, 15-8.
The championship concluded with a closely fought men’s doubles final. Assam’s T Boruah and N Choudhury won the opening game 15-11 before Arunachal Pradesh’s Choidrup Lobsang and Samuel Tamang levelled the contest with an identical scoreline in the second.
The Assam pair then regained control in the deciding game, winning 15-7 to claim the final individual gold of the championship.
The closing ceremony was followed by the prize distribution, with medals presented to the podium finishers, including Meghalaya’s four bronze medallists.
The hosts had secured their four bronze medals in the semifinals on Friday through Elsarica Umdor in the women’s singles, Netania T Tariang in the U-19 girls’ singles, Netania and Gavin Kharbuki in the U-19 mixed doubles, and Gitchiak Bregim A Sangma and Sonnal Joshi in the senior mixed doubles.
The medals provided recognition for Meghalaya’s shuttlers after months of preparation for the championship, while also giving them valuable competitive experience ahead of the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya will host next year.
