Shillong, Jul 7: Meghalaya have won their first medals at the 14th Senior National Pencak Silat Championship 2026, with two gold secured in the artistic (seni) categories.
The second day of the three-day event was as high on performance as the first and Meghalaya continued to see success in the combat (tanding) categories as well.
The championship is taking place at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre on the NEHU campus, with around 1,500 martial artists from 36 states, territories and sports boards vying for glory. The event is being organised by the Indian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF) in collaboration with the Meghalaya Pencak Silat Association (MPSA).
Additional Superintendent of Police Neena Rabha was the chief guest on the second day and she extolled the virtues of pencak silat and noted that it and the police service both require discipline, training, commitment and teamwork.
Pencak silat is a type of Indonesian martial art form that is part of the Asian Games. Fighters in the combat categories use kicks and punches to score points and can also gain by bringing their opponents to the mat.
Among the many Meghalaya fighters to find success today were Anthony Shadap, who reached the pre-quarterfinals by beating Benjamin Lalrindika of Mizoram 6-2.
Sumita Klein found herself behind after the first round against Kerala’s Sanooja K but came back in the second to win 19-18 in the very last second of their women’s bout.
By contrast Anisha Phangcho made it into the pre-quarters with just 1 point to her credit after her Uttar Pradesh opponent made too many infractions and had a score of -17 in the end.
The championship will conclude tomorrow. Mayralborn Syiem, Nongpoh MLA and Chairman of the Meghalaya State Health Advisory Board, will be the chief guest.
(Meghalaya Pencak Silat Association photo. Meghalaya’s Sumita Klein (red) reacts after taking down her opponent Sanooja of Kerala)