Shillong, June 14: Seven young kickboxers from Meghalaya, including four girls and three boys, departed for Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday to participate in the Sub-Junior National Kickboxing Championship 2026, scheduled to be held from June 17 to 21.
The contingent comprises athletes aged between 8 and 14 years, all students of St. Francis De Sales Secondary School, Laitkor. The Meghalaya contingent will be led by international kickboxer Daniella I. W. Mylliemngap, who will serve as the team coach during the event.
Among the athletes is Dajied Kyrpang Synjri of Laitkor Rngi, a ranking kickboxer who will compete in the Kick Light and Low Kick events in the below-48kg category. Class VI students Zyarra Kharkongor and Bashanpaia Kharkongor from Laitkor Nongdaneng will participate in the Light Contact (below 38kg) and Kick Light (below 40kg) categories respectively.
One of the youngest members of the team, Heilina Sad, aged eight, will compete in the Light Contact (below 42kg) and Point Fighting (below 28kg) categories. Meanwhile, Abigail Ridamaka L. Pyngrope and Ribhadaker Bina, both studying in Class VIII and hailing from Mawlyngad along the Jowai Road, will compete in the Kick Light (below 40kg) and Light Contact (below 48kg) events respectively.
A warm send-off programme for the team was held at Hotel Assembly in Police Bazaar, Shillong, where officials of the Meghalaya State Kickboxing Association, coaches, parents and well-wishers gathered to encourage the young athletes ahead of the championship. The Meghalaya State Kickboxing Association (MSKA) expressed its gratitude to the school management and Sister Principal for permitting the student-athletes to represent the state at the national-level event as well as allowing them to reappear for their tests and examinations after returning from the championship on June 23.
Shaiborlang Lyngdoh Mawphlang, Co-Adviser of the Meghalaya State Kickboxing Association, noted that such support by the school plays a vital role in enabling student-athletes to pursue sporting excellence while continuing their education. Mawphlang noted that the national championship serves as an important platform for identifying talented athletes who may eventually earn opportunities to represent India in international kickboxing competitions.
Honorary Working President of Meghalaya State Kickboxing Association and Executive Member of WAKO India Kickboxing Federation, Lorenzo Pearson Warjri, also appealed to parents and schools to support young athletes whenever they are selected for major sporting events. He encouraged parents requiring assistance in obtaining school permissions to approach the Meghalaya State Kickboxing Association, adding that similar support has been extended by educational institutions such as St. John Bosco’s Boys Higher Secondary School, Sohra.
The association further acknowledged the efforts of Babit Kharsahnoh, a licensed coach and currently ranked world No. 10 in kickboxing in his division, who is also the coach of the school, and international kickboxer Felicia K. Synjri, for their dedication in training and mentoring the young athletes.
