Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Shillong is back in the game. More than 250 athletes descended on the JN Sports Complex Indoor Stadium this Wednesday for the Yonex Sunrise North East Interstate Badminton Championship 2026. This four-day tournament marks the event's return to the city after a ten-year drought.
The Meghalaya State Badminton Association is running the show. They have support from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Badminton Federation of India. The competition rotates among eight states, but the Covid-19 pandemic stalled the cycle after Meghalaya last held it in 2016.
The courts are busy. Each state is allowed a roster of up to 34 players competing in Under-17, Under-19, and senior brackets. The schedule includes both individual and team trophies.
High-level talent is in the mix. Mizoram brought H Lalthazuala, a national Under-17 champion who competed at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Indonesia and the World Junior Badminton Championships in Guwahati. This is his first trip to Shillong. He remains optimistic about his team's chances. "Not to boast, but I think we have quite a strong team," he said.
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