Shillong, Sep 15: Shillong is set for four days of high-octane badminton as over 250 shuttlers from across the North East have arrived for the Yonex Sunrise North East Interstate Badminton Championship 2026 starting Wednesday at the JN Sports Complex Indoor Stadium.
The championship is being organised by the Meghalaya State Badminton Association with support from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India.
The prestigious regional meet is held on a rotational basis among the eight North Eastern states and returns to Meghalaya after 10 years. The state last hosted the event in 2016, with two editions cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to MSBA Vice-President Pynbianglang Laloo, each state, including hosts Meghalaya, can send a maximum of 34 players, with competitions lined up in U-17, U-19 and senior categories for both team and individual events. Matches will begin at 8am on Wednesday.
The home shuttlers are excited to measure themselves against the region’s best. Among the star attractions is Mizoram’s H Lalthazuala, the former national U-17 champion who represented India at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Indonesia and the World Junior Championships in Guwahati last year.
Visiting Shillong for the first time, Lalthazuala said he is hopeful of a strong show, adding, “Not to boast, but I think we have quite a strong team.”
