Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday, 8 August 2026, declared open the 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship-2026 at the Khelo India Indoor Stadium in Itanagar, announcing a doubling of the annual financial support for the event — from ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh — effective this year. The five-day championship has drawn 402 players, including 95 girls, from across the state's districts, with 543 matches scheduled across 28 events.

Infrastructure and Investment Drive

Khandu credited the state's sporting rise to a combination of improved facilities and sharper technical coaching. He pointed to the Khelo India initiative, championed at the national level under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a key enabler that helped bridge the infrastructure gap that had long held back talented athletes from the region. The championship itself is being hosted at the Khelo India Indoor Stadium, which features five ready badminton courts.

Looking ahead, Khandu announced that a dedicated Dorjee Khandu Badminton Academy — comprising 20 badminton courts — is currently under construction on a 20,700-square-metre plot of land donated by him near Sange Lhaden Sports Academy. 'Once the academy is completed, we will be able to host international-level badminton competitions here,' he said, describing the project as a major milestone for the sport in the state.

National Games Ambition

Khandu noted that Arunachal Pradesh secured second position among Northeastern states in the National Games ranking in the latest edition, and expressed confidence that the state would hold or improve that standing when Meghalaya hosts the 39th National Games in March 2027. He attributed the progress to sustained government investment and a growing pipeline of competitive talent.

CM's Sports Scholarship Scheme and Medal Haul

The Chief Minister highlighted the Chief Minister's Sports Scholarship Scheme (CMSSS), launched last year, which currently supports around 30 athletes across nine sports disciplines. In its first year alone, CMSSS-backed athletes collectively won around 75 medals and participated in 13 international competitions.

Khandu specifically congratulated para-badminton player Biri Takar for winning a Gold medal at the Brazil Para Badminton International 2026, calling the achievement within the scheme's first year a matter of pride for the state.

Rising Stars and Grassroots Push

The Chief Minister named several players making their mark at national and regional levels, including Taku Manku and Samuel Tamang, who have featured among India's top Under-19 players, alongside Divya Tagu, Kiyom Tamin, and La Takum. In the women's category, he highlighted Pinky Karki, Taring Yana, and La Yajum, noting that Taring Yana has been a five-time North East champion in women's doubles.

Khandu urged senior coaches and district-level associations to intensify grassroots scouting. 'Talent is not lacking in Arunachal Pradesh. What we need is to identify that talent early, provide the right training and give our young players sustained opportunities,' he said. The enhanced ₹50 lakh allocation, he confirmed, would continue for future editions of the championship.

The championship is organised annually by the Arunachal State Badminton Association (ASBA) in memory of former Chief Minister late Dorjee Khandu, who was instrumental in popularising the sport in the state. Khandu recalled that during his father's era, Itanagar had just a single badminton court, located below Raj Bhavan (now Lok Bhavan) — a contrast that underscores how far the state's sporting ecosystem has come.