Shillong, Sep 18: Meghalaya’s challenge at the North East Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship 2026 ended in the semifinals at the JN Indoor Stadium here today, with four home shuttlers settling for bronze medals.
The four-day 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 bronze finish is a positive takeaway for the hosts, who have been training with an eye on the 39th National Games to be hosted by Meghalaya next year.
Elsarica Umdor was the first local shuttler in semifinal action and went down to Assam’s Avikaa Borgohain 15-7, 15-10 in women’s singles.
In U-19 girls’ singles, Netania T Tariang fought hard but lost to Assam’s Noimikha Saikia 15-3, 15-8.
Netania later paired with Gavin Kharbuki in the U-19 mixed doubles semifinal, where the duo lost 15-10, 15-10 to Mizoram’s Vanlalpekhlua and Lalrinhlui Hmar.
Meghalaya’s last pair in the last four, Gitchiak Bregim A Sangma and Sonnal Joshi, started brightly but were overcome 15-10, 15-6 by Manipur’s M Hemam and P Konjengbam.
The tournament has brought together the region’s best senior and junior talent. Even out of the title race, Meghalaya’s players are expected to watch Saturday’s finals closely to gain experience.
DGP Idashisha Nongrang will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on Saturday.
