CM Conrad Sangma hails Meghalaya's SEA Championship wins
Synopsis
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma congratulated Pritam Sunar of Shillong for winning the Mr. South East Asia title and Sawakani Lakiang of Jowai for bagging gold in Bikini Model Bodybuilding at the South East Asia Championship 2026 held in Pattaya, Thailand.
Key Takeaways
Pritam Sunar from Shillong, Meghalaya won the Mr.
South East Asia title at the South East Asia Championship 2026.
Sawakani Lakiang from Tpep Pale, Jowai clinched a gold medal in the Bikini Model Bodybuilding category for India.
The championship was held in Pattaya, Thailand .
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma publicly acknowledged supporting both athletes' journeys.
The wins reflect a growing competitive bodybuilding presence from India's Northeast at regional Asian events.
Two athletes from Meghalaya have put the state on the bodybuilding map: Pritam Sunar from Shillong claimed the Mr. South East Asia title, while Sawakani Lakiang from Tpep Pale, Jowai, won a gold medal in the Bikini Model Bodybuilding category — both at the South East Asia Championship 2026 held in Pattaya, Thailand. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma took to X on Monday, October 26, to publicly salute both champions and acknowledge the state's role in their rise.
A Shillong champion and a Jowai golden girl
Pritam Sunar's Mr. South East Asia crown is a landmark for competitive bodybuilding in the Northeast — a discipline that has historically drawn far less institutional attention than combat sports or athletics in the region. Sawakani Lakiang's gold in Bikini Model Bodybuilding is equally significant: it signals a growing pool of women athletes from the hills of Jowai competing and winning at a multi-nation stage.
CM Sangma noted he was 'glad to have supported their journeys', a phrase that signals active state engagement rather than a routine ceremonial nod. Northeast chief ministers have increasingly used such public endorsements as soft commitments to continued athlete support, especially ahead of state budget cycles.
Northeast India's quiet bodybuilding surge
Meghalaya and its neighbouring states have seen a steady rise in athletes competing across combat sports, powerlifting, and bodybuilding at the regional Asian circuit. State governments across the Northeast have been funnelling incremental support — training stipends, travel grants, and exposure to national selection camps — into disciplines once considered niche. Sangma's shout-out to both athletes fits that broader pattern, and observers will watch whether a formal state felicitation or scheme announcement follows.
For Meghalaya, a state of roughly 3.5 million people, producing two headline-level winners at a single South East Asia meet is a genuine point of sporting pride — the kind that builds grassroots momentum for the next generation of competitors from the region.
Point of View
Positioning the Meghalaya government as a stakeholder in niche sporting disciplines. Northeast India has long argued for greater Centre-level recognition of its athletes in non-mainstream sports, and state-level endorsements like this build the political case for dedicated funding. The dual win — one male, one female champion — also offers the administration a gender-inclusive sporting narrative that aligns with broader national athlete-development optics. Whether this translates into formal state felicitation or new support schemes will be the real test of intent.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pritam Sunar?
Pritam Sunar is a bodybuilder from Shillong, Meghalaya, who won the Mr. South East Asia title at the South East Asia Championship 2026 held in Pattaya, Thailand.
Who is Sawakani Lakiang?
Sawakani Lakiang is an athlete from Tpep Pale, Jowai, Meghalaya, who won a gold medal in the Bikini Model Bodybuilding category at the South East Asia Championship 2026 in Pattaya, Thailand.
Where was the South East Asia Championship 2026 held?
The South East Asia Championship 2026 was held in Pattaya, Thailand.
What did Conrad Sangma say about the Meghalaya athletes?
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma congratulated both athletes and said he was 'glad to have supported their journeys', wishing them the best going forward.
Is bodybuilding popular in Meghalaya and Northeast India?
Bodybuilding is a growing discipline in Northeast India, with athletes from Meghalaya and neighbouring states increasingly competing at regional Asian championships, often supported by state government sports initiatives.
