Shillong, Aug 27: Meghalaya has long been plagued by having too many kickboxing associations representing the state but yesterday first steps were taken to bringing two of them together with the aim of consolidating them into one association.
The two are the Meghalaya State Kickboxing Association and All Meghalaya Kickboxing Association. Representatives of these two bodies met at the Meghalaya State Olympic Association office here.
Talks lasted two hours and saw both sides given space to try and talk their way forwards to uniting into one association for the benefit of Meghalaya kickboxing and, most importantly, the kickboxers themselves.
The mess in kickboxing is not a local one as each of the two state associations are affiliated to national governing bodies that are also at odds with one another.
Even if these two do find a way to make peace, there is still a third that was not part of the meeting – the Meghalaya Association of Kickboxing Organisations. It’s not clear why MAKO didn’t attend.
Given the sharp divisions, none of the three are formally affiliated with the MSOA. Having one consolidated state body would be necessary to organise kickboxing at the National Games 2027, which Meghalaya will host.
The MSOA was represented at the meeting by some of its highest office bearers – Working President John F Kharshiing, General Secretary Finely L Pariat, Treasurer Ksan Warjri, and Executive Member Dipshon Ryntathiang.