Shillong has welcomed more than 250 shuttlers from across the region for the start of the Yonex Sunrise North East Interstate Badminton Championship 2026, which opened at the JN Sports Complex Indoor Stadium, according to regional sports reports. The four-day regional tournament is organized by the Meghalaya State Badminton Association with support from the Meghalaya Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs under the aegis of the Badminton Federation of India.
Tournament Format and Regional Rotation
The championship rotates across the eight North East states. Meghalaya last hosted the regional tournament in 2016, following which two subsequent editions were lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to tournament organizers. The return of the event gives local athletes a direct platform to test their skills against top competition from neighboring states.
Each participating state association, including host Meghalaya, is permitted to send a maximum squad of 34 shuttlers, according to Meghalaya State Badminton Association Vice-President Pynbianglang Laloo. Competition covers Under-17, Under-19, and senior age brackets, featuring both individual events and team championships.
Contingent Spotlights and Notable Entries
Among the prominent players traveling to Shillong is H Lalthazuala of Mizoram. Lalthazuala captured the national Under-17 title and represented India at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Indonesia as well as the World Junior Badminton Championships held in Guwahati last year. Making his first visit to the Meghalaya capital, Lalthazuala expressed confidence in his squad’s prospects. “Not to boast, but I think we have quite a strong team,” he said regarding the Mizoram contingent.
Matches for the four-day event commenced at 8:00 AM local time at the indoor stadium facility. The schedule features intensive group and knockout fixtures across all categories before crowning the team and individual champions later in the week.
Schedule and Next Steps
Play continues through the week at the JN Sports Complex Indoor Stadium, culminating in the finals and medal ceremonies. Fans and followers can check regional sports portals and the Meghalaya State Badminton Association updates for daily match orders and results.
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