Shillong, Jul 9: Nagaland bagged the title of Overall Champions at the 14th Senior National Pencak Silat Championship 2026 yesterday but it was hosts Meghalaya (featured pic) who celebrated the most as they took an inspiring second place against the likes of more experienced teams.
Nagaland claimed first place with 6 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal ahead of Meghalaya’s 4 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze. In third was All India Police Sports Control Board with 4 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.
This was the second major success of the budding Meghalaya Pencak Silat Association (MPSA), which is barely a year old. In March this year they were Overall Champions in the Senior National Khelo India ASMITA Pencak Silat League 2025-26 for women.
The current three-day championship took 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 competing in artistic (seni) and combat (tanding) categories. It was organised by the Indian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF) in collaboration with the MPSA.
Pencak silat is a type of Indonesian martial art form that is part of the Asian Games and it is hoped that it will find inclusion in the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya will host next year.
The chief guest on the closing day, Mayralborn Syiem, Nongpoh MLA and Chairman of the Meghalaya State Health Advisory Board, said in his speech that he wished to see this discipline be included in the National Games.
Looking around at the gathered athletes, drawn from all corners of the country, Syiem also said that the championship “celebrates the diversity of India”. He added, “I know that you athletes will take many joyous memories home with you, not just from the tournament but also from our beautiful state.”
Meghalaya’s gold medal winners were Banrilang Muktieh (tanding -65kg female), Tobias Klein (seni ganda male), Philip Khymdeit (seni ganda male) and Rimchi Sangma (seni tunggal female).
All the state’s other medals were in tanding. The two silver medallists were Viviana Mallai (-70kg female) and Tapash Rabha (-85kg male), while the bronze medallists were Khamtimon Rympei (-80kg female), Domonika Syiem (-60kg female), Iohdahun Klein (-55kg female), Anthony Shadap (-55kg male), Sundayrius Khymdeit (-60kg male) and Moon Moon Rabha (-70kg male).
The Meghalaya team was coached by Thomas Rangthaluh and the manager was Balamlang Khriam.
With back-to-back success stories, Meghalaya has risen to the top of the national level when it comes to pencak silat, marking another stepping stone as the state aims to become a major force in more sporting disciplines. The hard work by the MPSA, coaches and martial artists have paid off and with further dedication and support from stakeholders, international medals may not be too far away.
(Meghalaya Pencak Silat Association photos)