SHILLONG, Oct 22: More than 900 karatekas and officials have arrived in Shillong for the fifth KIO North East Zone Karate Championship, which will be held at the NEHU Convocation Hall on Friday and Saturday.
Meghalaya will field a 292-member contingent at the regional event, organised by the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association (AMKA) under the aegis of the Karate India Organisation (KIO), with support from the state government’s Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.
The state’s karatekas will aim to build on their performance at last year’s championship in Itanagar, where they secured 62 medals.
The squad includes international medallists Daniel Dabiangbha Warjri, who won gold in the boys’ junior individual kumite (under-68kg) category at the South Asian Karate Championship 2026, and Gideon Tympuin, who claimed bronze in the men’s under-21 individual kata event.
Kynjailin Lyngdoh Mawnai, a bronze medallist at the 2025 South Asian Karate Championship in Colombo, will also represent Meghalaya. Several gold medallists from last year’s zonal meet, including Fadrik Wanniang, Aventinus George Mylliem, Samebanmerbha Blah, Ialamphang Kharkongor, Princey A Blah Pohti and Adella Nongrum, are part of the squad.
The championship offers participants an opportunity to qualify for the KIO Inter-Zonal Karate Championship, scheduled in New Delhi on December 16 and 17.
A KIO referee and coaches’ seminar and examination was held on Thursday, with 21 participants from Meghalaya. The programme was conducted by Premjit Sen, chairman of the KIO Referee Commission.Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla will inaugurate the championship at 3pm on Friday. Sports and Youth Affairs Director Alertson Nongbri and KIO president Bharat Sharma are also expected to attend.