Strong turnout as state archery meet gets under way at NEHU
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Archery Championship 2026 began on Tuesday at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre on the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus, drawing more than 200 archers and officials to a three-day programme that includes individual and team contests across disciplines.
Organised by the Archery Association of Meghalaya (AAM), the championship features competitions in the Indian Round, recurve and compound categories. Competitors across age groups are taking part, and officials said the strongest representation to date comes from all 12 districts of the state.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue | SAI Centre, NEHU campus, Shillong |
| Duration | Three days |
| Participants | More than 200 archers and officials |
| Disciplines | Indian Round, recurve, compound; individual and team events |
Opening ceremony, officials and early schedule
Smti Isawanda Laloo, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, attended the inauguration as the chief guest. She was joined by Finely L. Pariat, General Secretary of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association, and Khroobok Passah, Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Affairs.
The first day was devoted to Indian Round events, with the inaugural set of medals scheduled for presentation on Wednesday.
Officials try the sport, government emphasises National Games preparation
At the ceremony Laloo and Pariat tried recurve archery alongside participants, experiencing the physical effort required to draw a bowstring. In her address Laloo emphasised the state’s ongoing preparations for the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya is due to host next year.
“That shows that all the efforts of the association are paying off,”
The secretary pointed to Meghalaya’s recent performance at the 1st Khelo India Tribal Games where the state earned two gold medals and a bronze in archery, and she urged young archers to build on that momentum.
Laloo also noted plans to develop two Centres of Excellence — one in the Garo Hills and another in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills — an initiative she described as a long-standing aspiration of the Chief Minister.
Association perspective and test-event role
The AAM said it was particularly pleased by the pan-state participation. Matsiewdor War Nongbri, IAS, Chief Advisor of the Archery Association of Meghalaya, delivered the keynote address at the opening.
Officials indicated that events such as the state seniors national competition will serve as preparatory or test events ahead of the National Games, offering athletes and organisers an opportunity to sharpen arrangements and competition readiness.
Local impact and pathway for youngsters
Coaches and association officials view the championship as a platform for talent identification and exposure, particularly because medal success at national multi-sport events can open pathways for support from state and national schemes. The presence of participants from all districts suggests a widening footprint for archery in Meghalaya beyond traditional centres.
For parents and athletes, the championship also provides a schedule and visible targets. With medal rounds starting on Wednesday, athletes in recurve and compound disciplines will be vying for podium finishes that could inform selection for higher-level competitions.
- When: Three-day event beginning Tuesday; medals from Wednesday
- Where: SAI Centre, NEHU campus, Shillong
- Who: More than 200 archers and officials from all 12 districts
The state-level championship is set to continue through the midweek, as archers contest titles and organisers fine-tune logistics in the run-up to next year’s National Games.
