Dimapur hosts state junior meet with strong participation
The 3rd Nagaland Junior Athletics Championships 2026 was held on Thursday at the Government Higher Secondary School Ground in Dimapur, drawing a field of 209 young competitors who contested events in the Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 categories. The championship, organised by Nagaland Athletics, offered a platform for emerging talent across the state to compete in sprints, middle-distance races, jumps and throws.
Officials said the meet aimed to give junior athletes competitive exposure and help selectors assess performers for higher-level meets. Events reported included triathlons for the Under-14 category, the 60m and 100m sprints, 600m races, long jump and shot put among others.
Notable individual results
Several athletes posted winning performances across categories. Results published by Nagaland Athletics showed close contests in sprint and field events, with multiple athletes achieving top-three places:
- Under-14 Boys Triathlon B: 1st — Mughakupu Yesca (1,831 points), 2nd — Abishek Kuwar (1,739), 3rd — Imli Tangit (1,601).
- Under-14 Girls Triathlon B: 1st — Lihike Yepthomi (1,605 points), 2nd — Bemang W (1,444), 3rd — A. Ake (1,315).
- Under-16 Girls 60m: 1st — Achano Liegise (8.91 sec); 600m: 1st — Supei S. (2:02).
- Under-16 Boys 60m: 1st — Akash Gowalla (7.51 sec); 600m: 1st — Thejahloulie Suohu (1:44).
- Under-18 Boys 100m: 1st — Moalong Jamir (12.16 sec), 2nd — Diezevi Meru (12.35 sec).
Selected medal-winning performances (field events and others)
| Category | Event | Gold | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under-16 Girls | Long jump | Achano Liegise | 3.29 m |
| Under-16 Boys | Long jump | John Thapa | 3.88 m |
| Under-16 Boys | Shot put | Viboto Wotsa | 10.23 m |
| Under-14 Boys | Triathlon C | Boilim Hansing | 1,218 points |
Other podium finishers included Apoang N. Apoang, who topped the long jump in an unspecified category with a leap of 4.48 m, and Kevisinuo Dzuvi who won a race in 32.16 seconds. In shot put, Apoang N. recorded a best of 7.40 m, followed closely by Veingaihsangi (6.94 m) and Linovi Zhimomi (6.15 m).
Depth across age groups
The championships featured multi-discipline triathlon events at the Under-14 level, where combined points decided rankings, and more specialised track and field contests at higher age groups. The Under-14 triathlon competition produced competitive point totals such as 1,831 for the Under-14 Boys Triathlon B winner and 1,605 for the Under-14 Girls Triathlon B gold medallist.
In the Under-16 girls' 600m, times ranged from a winning 2:02 to other finalists running in the 2:11–2:35 bracket, indicating varying levels of endurance training among participants. Boys' 600m finishes showed tighter margins at the top with the winner clocking 1:44 and second and third places at 1:47 and 1:48 respectively.
What the meet means locally
State-level junior meets such as this serve multiple purposes: they identify promising athletes who may be groomed for zonal and national competitions, provide competitive exposure, and help coaches evaluate progress. For athletes from remote parts of Nagaland, the championships are a rare opportunity to compete under standard conditions and benchmark themselves against peers from other districts.
Organisers are expected to compile the full results and may use performances to recommend athletes for further training camps and selection trials. Parents and local schools often use such meets to assess the effectiveness of their physical education programmes and to encourage continued participation in athletics.
With strong participation and a range of competitive performances across sprint, jump and throw events, the 3rd Nagaland Junior Athletics Championships underlined the depth of junior athletics in the state and provided a clear list of athletes for coaches and selectors to watch in the coming season.
