CM Pema Khandu Opens 13th Dorjee Khandu Badminton C'ship
Synopsis
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu inaugurated the 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship-2026 at Itanagar's Khelo India Indoor Stadium, with 402 players including 95 girls competing across 28 events and 543 matches in the state's biggest badminton talent showcase.
Key Takeaways
CM Pema Khandu declared open the Yonex Sunrise 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship-2026 in Itanagar on 8 August 2026 .
The championship features 402 players , including 95 girls , competing in 28 events across 543 matches .
The venue is the Khelo India Indoor Stadium, Itanagar , built under the central government's Khelo India grassroots sports scheme launched in 2017 .
The tournament is named after former CM Dorjee Khandu , who served from 2007 to 2011 and died in a helicopter crash in 2011 .
Top performers may earn selection for national Khelo India events or junior national badminton squads.
Four hundred and two shuttlers walked into the Khelo India Indoor Stadium, Itanagar, on Saturday, 8 August 2026 — and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu made clear this was not just a tournament. It was a talent hunt.
Declaring open the Yonex Sunrise 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship-2026, Chief Minister Khandu announced a field of 402 players — including 95 girls — competing across 28 events and 543 matches. His message from the court was blunt and deliberate: 'Talent is not lacking in Arunachal. We will find it. We will train it. We will support it. And we will provide our young players the right opportunities to excel.'
A tribute tournament that grew into a scouting ground
The championship honours Dorjee Khandu, who served as Arunachal Pradesh's Chief Minister from 2007 to 2011 before his death in a helicopter crash in 2011. What began as a memorial event has, over thirteen editions, evolved into the state's largest structured badminton platform — now doubling as a live audition for the next generation of players from across the state's remote districts. The venue itself signals intent. The Khelo India Indoor Stadium in Itanagar was built under the Khelo India scheme, the central government's flagship grassroots sports programme launched in 2017 to plug infrastructure gaps in states — particularly in the Northeast — that have historically been underserved by sporting facilities.95 girls on court — and why that number matters
Of the 402 participants, 95 are girls — a figure worth pausing on in a state where geographic isolation and limited coaching pipelines have long kept female athletes off competitive rosters. Their presence in nearly a quarter of the field reflects a quiet but measurable shift in how Arunachal Pradesh is approaching women's sports development. With 28 events spanning age groups and categories, the championship is structured precisely to give selectors a wide net. The next milestone to watch: whether standout performers here earn call-ups to national Khelo India competitions or junior national squads — the pipeline that converts state-level promise into international pedigree. Arunachal Pradesh has talent. The stadium is built. The matches are set. Now the state waits to see which names emerge from the draw.Point of View
And leveraging Khelo India infrastructure to reduce the Northeast's historic disadvantage in national sports pipelines. The inclusion of 95 girls in the draw is a data point the state will likely cite in future sports-budget arguments. If the championship consistently feeds players into national-level Khelo India competitions, it transitions from tribute event to genuine talent conveyor belt — which is precisely the political and developmental case CM Khandu is making with his public framing.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dorjee Khandu Memorial Badminton Championship?
It is an annual state-level badminton tournament in Arunachal Pradesh named after former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who served from 2007 to 2011. The 2026 edition is the 13th, held at the Khelo India Indoor Stadium in Itanagar.
How many players are participating in the 2026 championship?
A total of 402 players are competing, including 95 girls, across 28 events and 543 matches.
Where is the Khelo India Indoor Stadium in Itanagar?
The Khelo India Indoor Stadium is located in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. It was built under the central government's Khelo India sports development scheme launched in 2017.
Who was Dorjee Khandu?
Dorjee Khandu was Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh from 2007 to 2011. He died in a helicopter crash in 2011 and is the father of current Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
What is the Khelo India scheme?
Khelo India is a national sports development programme launched by the central government in 2017 to build grassroots sports infrastructure, identify young talent, and fund indoor stadiums across India, including in Northeastern states.
