Shillong, Aug 11: The Meghalaya State Archery Championship 2026 got underway at the Sports Authority of India Centre on the NEHU campus here on Tuesday, with more than 200 archers and officials taking part in the three-day championship.
Organised by the Archery Association of Meghalaya (AAM), the championship features archers across different age groups competing in the Indian Round, Recurve and Compound categories in both individual and team events.
This year’s championship has also seen participation from all 12 districts of Meghalaya.
The opening day was dedicated to the Sub-Junior Indian Round events, while the first medals of the championship will be awarded on Wednesday.
Secretary of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Isawanda Laloo, attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest. She was accompanied by Meghalaya State Olympic Association General Secretary, Finely L Pariat, and Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Khroobok Passah.
Laloo and Pariat also tried their hands at the Recurve bow during the opening programme and experienced the strength required to pull the bowstring.
Speaking at the inaugural programme, Laloo said the state government, sports associations and athletes are fully engaged in preparations for the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya is scheduled to host next year.
She also highlighted Meghalaya’s performance at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games earlier this year, where both of the state’s two gold medals came in archery, along with a bronze.
“That shows that all the efforts of the association are paying off,” Laloo said, while encouraging the young archers to carry forward the state’s archery legacy and achieve greater success in the future.
Laloo also informed that two Centres of Excellence are being developed in Garo Hills and Khasi-Jaintia Hills, which she described as a dream of the Chief Minister.
The keynote address was delivered by Matsiewdor War Nongbri, Chief Advisor of the AAM, a former archer and archery judge.
War Nongbri announced that the Senior National Archery Championship will be held in Meghalaya later this year. Laloo added that the national championship would also be considered as a test event for the 39th National Games.
Speaking on the history of archery, War Nongbri said the practice has been an important part of human survival, including among communities in Meghalaya, for thousands of years, but has now evolved into a sport and leisure activity.
She also spoke about the development of modern archery during the first half of the 20th century and its eventual recognition by the International Olympic Committee in the 1960s.
War Nongbri highlighted the contribution of late Woodward Sohliya to the development of modern archery in India, describing him as the architect of the Indian Round. “After tireless striving, we stand at a much more comfortable place now,” War Nongbri said, crediting the state government’s support for the development of archery in Meghalaya.
She also acknowledged the support of the Chief Minister, Sports Minister and the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs for providing the association with coaches, performance directors, other personnel and equipment ahead of the National Games.
“We promise not to leave any stone unturned to reach the pinnacles of glory that every archer seeks,” she concluded.
The championship continues on Wednesday with the Junior Indian Round, while August 13 will feature Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior competitions in Recurve, Compound and Indian Round categories.
