Shillong, June 25: For years, Meghalaya’s athletes have competed on national stages despite limited facilities, inadequate equipment and scarce financial support. With the state preparing to host the 39th National Games in 2027, many believe those challenges are gradually beginning to ease.
The change is evident in the stories of athletes such as archer Donkupar L. Shadap, who recently won gold in the Compound Men’s event at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games in Chhattisgarh.
Shadap’s journey began in Ryntieh Khasi village, where he first watched local archers as a child. Two decades later, he is among the state’s leading medal prospects.
“There was a time when we trained with whatever equipment was available,” said the 25-year-old. “Now we have access to much better facilities and training.”
His gold medal, along with Kate Diamond Lyngdoh’s triumph in the Compound Women’s category, highlighted Meghalaya’s encouraging performance at the Tribal Games, where the state also secured seven bronze medals.
For many within the sporting fraternity, those results represent more than just podium finishes. They are viewed as indicators of a growing support system ahead of the National Games.
The upcoming event is expected to place unprecedented attention on Meghalaya’s athletes, many of whom are already undergoing intensive preparations.
Among them is Greco-Roman wrestler Juh Pa U Juh Nongtdu, who won bronze at the Tribal Games and has been training in specialised camps since late last year.
The 23-year-old believes improved coaching and structured training programmes have made a significant difference to athletes’ preparations.
“Earlier, many athletes had to manage a large part of their training expenses themselves. Now there is greater support and better access to coaching,” he said.
The impact is being felt across disciplines. Wrestling Association of Meghalaya president Isaiah Kharmawphlang said athletes today have opportunities that were difficult to imagine a decade ago.
“Earlier, most of the expenses had to be borne by athletes and their families. Now there is more institutional support and better facilities,” he said.Archery continues to be one of the state’s most promising medal-producing sports. Lyngdoh, who balances her studies with training in Shillong, has already set her sights on the National Games.
“My aim is to win a medal on home soil,” she said.
That ambition is shared by many young athletes across Meghalaya, where expectations are steadily rising ahead of the country’s premier multi-sport event.
The state has witnessed increased investment in sports infrastructure in recent years, including indoor facilities and training centres. Officials believe these developments will help create a stronger platform for local athletes to compete against the country’s best.
However, the ultimate success of the National Games will likely be measured not only by new venues or organisational achievements, but also by the performances of Meghalaya’s athletes.
With less than a year to go before the Games, preparations are intensifying. For competitors such as Shadap, Lyngdoh and Nongtdu, the prospect of representing Meghalaya on home soil offers a rare opportunity to convert years of effort into medals before their own supporters.
As the countdown to 2027 continues, the focus is increasingly shifting from infrastructure to performance, and from preparation to expectation.
