A record 802 karatekas from 126 schools have begun competing in the 32nd Meghalaya State-Level Inter-School Karate Tournament 2026, which commenced in Shillong on July 23, marking the highest participation in the history of the championship and reflecting the growing popularity of the sport in the state.
The three-day tournament is being organised by the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association (AMKA) with support from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. The event is being held at the Multipurpose Indoor Hall of the Sports Authority of India centre on the NEHU campus.
This year’s participation has surpassed the previous record of 748 competitors from 104 schools set last year. St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School are the defending champions in the boys’ category, while Auxilium Girls’ Higher Secondary School are the reigning champions in the girls’ section.
The opening ceremony was attended by Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) Working President John F. Kharshiing as the chief guest and MSOA General Secretary Finely L. Pariat as the guest of honour.
Addressing participants, Kharshiing lauded AMKA, describing it as “one of the few state associations to have an inter-school programme”. Pariat also praised the association, calling it “one of the best sports associations in the state”.
With Meghalaya scheduled to host the 39th National Games next year, the championship is expected to serve as an important platform for identifying emerging talent. Several senior competitors are likely to be considered for the state squad if karate is included in the National Games programme.
During the inaugural ceremony, AMKA also felicitated Meghalaya’s medal-winning karatekas Daniel Dabiangbha Warjri and Gideon Tympuin for their performances at the South Asian Karate Championship in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Daniel won gold in the Boys’ Junior -68kg Kumite event, while Gideon secured bronze in the Men’s Under-21 Individual Kata category. The medals were presented by the chief guest and guest of honour, while Pariat announced cash incentives on behalf of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association in recognition of their international achievements.
Before the start of the competitions, Daniel administered the athletes’ oath, after which Kharshiing formally declared the tournament open.
