Shillong, Nov 6: Meghalaya has proposed to host competitions across 39 sporting disciplines at the 39th National Games 2027, comprising 38 competitive disciplines and softball as a demonstration sport.
The proposed list was announced by Alertseon Nongbri, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, during a press conference on Thursday, outlining the state’s proposed sporting programme for the national event.
The 38 competitive disciplines proposed by Meghalaya are archery, athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, handball, judo, kabaddi, kho kho, karate, lawn bowls, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, shooting, squash, sailing, triathlon, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, yogasana, arm wrestling, Muay Thai and sports climbing. Softball has been proposed as a demonstration sport.
Providing details of the proposed distribution of events, John F. Kharshiing, Working President of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA), said around 25 sporting disciplines would be held in and around Shillong, while six to seven events were proposed for Tura and another two to three for the Jaintia Hills region. The distribution, however, remains subject to approval by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Meanwhile, Nongbri clarified that no limit had been set on the number of sporting disciplines in which Meghalaya could participate. “Meghalaya, being the host state, can take part in all sports,” he said.
Although the final list of teams and participating athletes is yet to be drawn up, Nongbri assured that Meghalaya would field participants in every discipline in which the state has athletes.
The proposed list of disciplines is yet to receive final approval from the IOA, which will determine the events to be included in the Games.
The development comes as the five-member Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC), led by Chairperson Sunaina Kumari, concluded its four-day visit to Meghalaya on Thursday after reviewing preparations and inspecting sporting infrastructure.
The committee expressed satisfaction with the progress of preparations, although several aspects of the Games, including the final selection of disciplines and competition venues, are yet to be confirmed.
The 39th National Games are proposed to be held from March 10 to 30, 2027, with Meghalaya preparing to host competitions across multiple venues in the state. Some sporting disciplines may also be accommodated in other Northeastern states, depending on the final allocation of events and venue requirements.
