Shillong, March 27: Meghalaya demonstrated its potential in another martial art form after being crowned Champions of the Senior National Khelo India ASMITA Pencak Silat League 2025-26, which came to a conclusion at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre on the NEHU campus here on Friday.
The two-day event saw the hosts bag 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze in both combat (tanding) and artistic (seni) categories and was a huge mark of success for the budding Meghalaya Pencak Silat Association.
In the combat division, Khamtimon Rympei was up against Monika Boro in the final of the 75-80kg category and showed remarkable resolve to win the title bout against a determined opponent in her weight class.
The other gold medal was won in ganda (artistic pairs) by Ilashimti Klein and Libia Matong, who beat out teams from Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland and DNHDD for the top spot on the podium.
The other medals were won by Banrilang Muktieh, who took silver in the 60-65kg combat category, and Promiseora Khymdeit, who earned a bronze in the U-45 combat category.
Second behind Meghalaya were Nagaland while Jammu & Kashmir finished in third position.
Around 300 female participants from 23 states and territories took part in the two-day event.
In the end, beyond the medals and the applause that echoed across the SAI centre, what truly stood out was the quiet assertion of Meghalaya’s growing stature in disciplines that once lay beyond its traditional sporting map. This triumph was not merely about finishing atop the podium, but about a deeper shift — a sign that with the right exposure, structured training and unwavering belief, athletes from the state can rise to challenge and outclass the very best in the country, even in relatively new arenas like Pencak Silat.
