CM Pema Khandu flags off 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial Badminton C'ships
Synopsis
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu has greeted players at the 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championships, organised by the Arunachal State Badminton Association in memory of his father, the late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a 2011 helicopter crash.
Key Takeaways
The 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championships opened on August 9, 2026 .
The tournament is organised by the Arunachal State Badminton Association in memory of former CM Dorjee Khandu .
Dorjee Khandu served as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in 2011 .
Current CM Pema Khandu is the son of Dorjee Khandu and has held the chief ministership since 2016 .
The championships form part of broader efforts to promote competitive youth sports in Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast.
A father's love for badminton lives on — and this year, it enters its 13th chapter. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday, August 9, 2026, invoked the memory of his late father and former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu as the annual state badminton championships bearing his name got underway.
Writing on X, CM Khandu recalled his father's passion for the sport: 'He loved the sport, the competition and, most importantly, seeing our young people excel.' That sentiment, he said, is exactly what the Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championships — organised by the Arunachal State Badminton Association — was built to carry forward.
The legacy behind the shuttle
Dorjee Khandu served as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in 2011 — a loss that shook the state and left a political and personal void. He was known for a genuine personal interest in sports, and badminton held a special place among them. The memorial championship, now in its 13th edition, is the Arunachal State Badminton Association's way of keeping that connection between leadership and sport alive in the state's competitive calendar.Northeast's push to build champions from the grassroots
Across India's northeastern states, memorial tournaments in honour of departed leaders have become a steady feature of the sporting landscape — part tribute, part pipeline for young talent. For Arunachal Pradesh, a state that sits at the frontier of India's Northeast and has been steadily building its sports infrastructure, events like these serve a dual purpose: honouring history while giving young athletes a competitive stage. CM Khandu extended his 'very best wishes to all the players, organisers and officials,' closing with a simple, charged line — 'Let the games begin!' Thirteen editions in, a father's passion for watching young people win is still the starting gun.Point of View
Publicly invoking his father's memory at such events reinforces both a personal narrative and a governance identity centred on youth and sport. Thirteen editions in, the tournament has moved from tribute to tradition — a meaningful distinction in a state still building its competitive sports ecosystem. Whether this edition prompts fresh state investment in badminton coaching or infrastructure will be the real policy signal to watch.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dorjee Khandu?
Dorjee Khandu was the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in 2011. He was the father of current CM Pema Khandu and was known for his personal interest in sports, including badminton.
What is the Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship?
It is an annual state-level badminton tournament organised by the Arunachal State Badminton Association in memory of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu. The 2026 edition is the 13th in the series.
Who organises the Dorjee Khandu Memorial Badminton Championships?
The Arunachal State Badminton Association organises the championships each year.
Why did Pema Khandu post about the badminton championship?
CM Pema Khandu shared a tribute to his late father Dorjee Khandu, noting the former CM's love for badminton and extending best wishes to players, organisers, and officials for the 13th edition of the memorial tournament.
How did Dorjee Khandu die?
Dorjee Khandu died in a helicopter crash in 2011 while serving as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
