Shillong, Oct 18: The 5th KIO North East Zone Karate Championship will be the first mega karate event in Meghalaya in the last 30 years and the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association (AMKA) is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the three-day event is held successfully.
As many as 900 karatekas and officials are expected to participate in the 22nd to 24th October event, which will take place at the NEHU Convocation Hall here. The championship, organised under the aegis of the Karate India Organisation, is being hosted by AMKA with the full support of the state’s Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday evening to bring the media up to speed with the preparations, AMKA President Hunlang Lytan spoke of the association’s pride at being selected for this three-day event, which will also encompass a referee and coaches seminar/examination.
“For us at AMKA, this is a particularly special occasion,” Lytan said. “After nearly 30 years, we are hosting a mega-level karate championship of this scale. It is a matter of great pride and responsibility for the entire association. We want to give our very best and ensure that this championship becomes a memorable experience for every participating athlete, official and guest. We are expecting more than 900 participants, including around 20 international-level karatekas, who will compete in the Sub-Junior, Cadet, Junior, U-21 and Senior categories in both kata and kumite.”
Meghalaya will be represented by a contingent of 296 karatekas, comprising 152 male and 144 female martial artists. Karatekas from six other North East will also be heading to Shillong for the zonal tournament, with only Mizoram not taking part.
“This is an encouraging indication of the participation and enthusiasm of our young karatekas and we hope they will make the state proud through their performances,” Lytan added. AMKA karatekas won an impressive 62 medals at last year’s championship, which was held in Itanagar.
The Meghalaya contingent will be supported by a dedicated team of coaches, assistant coaches, team managers and a physiotherapist to ensure the athletes receive the necessary technical guidance, supervision and care throughout the championship. The coaching team comprises Mingson Rymbai and Arjun Sewa, who will serve as head coaches, while Wandashisha Warjri and Ronald L Nonglait will serve as assistant coaches. The team manager responsibilities will be handled by Laiarisa Nongrum, Beautiful Mary Mylliem, Rose Mary Tympuin, Junita Rani and Aihunlang Makdoh, while Sharailang Nongneng Shanpru will be the team physiotherapist.
The championship is important because the winners will qualify for the KIO Inter-Zonal Karate Championship 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 16th-17th December. This competition will provide our athletes with an important opportunity to progress to the next level and demonstrate their abilities on a bigger platform.
Comprehensive preparations are being made by committees and sub-committees constituted to run the on-ground organisation. Lytan is the organising committee’s Chairman and AMKA General Secretary Ksan Kupar Warjri is the Organising Secretary. Ransom Sutnga and Aiborlang Shabong, AMKA Patron and AMKA Adviser respectively, are guiding the organising committee with their experience and valuable suggestions.
“Our objective is not only to conduct a technically sound and successful championship but also to ensure that every participating team feels welcome and experiences the warmth and hospitality of Shillong and Meghalaya,” Warjri said. “We want all participating teams to return home with wonderful memories of their visit to our state. We believe that hosting such an event will also provide an opportunity to showcase Meghalaya’s hospitality, organisational capabilities and commitment to the promotion of sports.”
The karate matches will all take place on 23rd and 24th October. The first day, 22nd October, will be given over to the KIO Referee and Coaches Seminar and Examination alongside the championship. Meghalaya will have 21 participants attending this programme, which will be conducted by Premjit Sen, Chairman of the KIO’s Referee Commission.
The formal opening ceremony will be held on 23rd October, with the championship to be inaugurated by Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla. The guest of honour will be Sports & Youth Affairs Director, Alertson Nongbri. KIO President Bharat Sharma will also be present during the championship, adding significance to this important sporting event.
Sutnga also congratulated the AMKA office bearers on bringing this prestigious championship to Meghalaya. “This is a tremendous honour for AMKA and Meghalaya and important preparation for the 39th National Games next year. I am very thankful to the state government for supporting AMKA.”
Shabong, meanwhile, also added his thanks to the state government and said that through its support a way will open up for Meghalaya’s youth to shine at this tournament and further afield.
Finally, Donboklang Lyngdoh, a senior coach of AMKA, said that preparing nearly 300 karatekas for the tournament is not easy. “All coaches and assistant coaches are working towards that,” he added. “It is through the efforts of the whole AMKA team. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will give tough competition but we are hopeful of bringing laurels to our state.”
(All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association photo. AMKA organising committee members)
