Shillong, Apr 10: Meghalaya finished the 1st Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 with a haul of nine medals and now the state’s athletes are looking to go further.
With two gold and seven bronze medals, Meghalaya finished 13th out of the 30-odd states and territories that participated at the 25th March to 3rd April Games in Chhattisgarh. (Get more information on all the state’s medallists here along with the final medals table.)
A delighted Donkupar L Shadap from Nongpoh, who bagged a gold medal in compound men’s archery, recalled the days of hard work and practice sessions that finally paid off under his head coach Mim Bahadur Gurung, with Nandkishore as his compound coach.
“My interest in this game started at the age of 5. My father often took me to watch [traditional] archery competitions in our village. I also watched Olympians take part in archery, and a desire to pursue the sport was sparked within me,” he said in a press release today.
Donkupar (pictured left) and the other athletes quoted gave thanks to the Meghalaya government (it was a Department of Sports & Youth Affairs press release, after all). The state has given nearly Rs 40 crore to different sports associations for their various needs, whether it is equipment, coaching, tournament expenses, etc, all in the hope that this will yield positive results in the National Games 2027, which Meghalaya is meant to host.
“Archery equipment is very expensive, costing about Rs 3 lakh, but we were able to train using first-class equipment through the support provided by the Chief Minister, which was not available earlier,” Donkupar said.
Another gold-winning archer was Kate Diamond Lyngdoh (pictured right) from Mawlai Kynton Massar. She won the yellow metal in compound women’s archery and, like Donkupar, had always wanted to be an archer since her school days.
“My aim is to win a medal on my home ground at the upcoming National Games,” she said, adding that the government’s financial help means that the archers and their families do not have to contribute travel expenses in order to participate in tournaments outside the state.
Juh Pa U Juh Nongtdu (centre) from Nartiang in West Jaintia Hills, was a bronze medal winner in 60kg Greco-Roman wrestling. Wrestling is a fairly news sport to Meghalaya but the state has already won a few medals in different events.
Juh Pa U Juh has been training since November 2025 for next year’s National Games. He aspires to represent the state and the country in wrestling, believing that hard work and determination are key to such achievements.
Isaiah Kharmawphlang, President of the Wrestling Association of Meghalaya, stated that athletes underwent rigorous preparation for the Tribal Games, with access to international-level training.
He said, “We hope more youth take up sports as there is a lot of potential in it. We are grateful for the support received from the government. Earlier, we used to struggle and most of the expenditure was borne from our own pockets. Now things have changed. Athletes and associations are well supported.”
With over 300 sports infrastructure facilities developed across the state and more than 35,000 participants in state tournaments, Meghalaya is aiming to be a hub for sporting events and athletic excellence. The achievements of these young talents will help shape and develop the sports ecosystem in the state, preparing sportspersons for national and international arenas, the release concluded.
(Photos contributed)
