Shillong, October 27: East Khasi Hills retained their title of Overall Champions in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 31st State Karate Championship 2025, which concluded here on Saturday.
The three-day event, held at the JN Indoor Stadium, Polo, was organised by the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association (AMKA) with support from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. Karatekas numbering 512 from eight districts participated this year, which is an increase on 2024’s figure of 456. The martial artists ranged in age from 6 up to the senior level and impressed with their skills in kumite (sparring) and kata (choreographed movement demonstration) events.
West Khasi Hills were the runners-up in the men’s category and Ri-Bhoi the runners-up in the women’s.
Cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai MLA was the chief guest at the closing ceremony and officially brought the championship to an end. In a short speech, he admired the youngsters for their dedication to their chosen sport and thanked the parents for supporting them in their endeavours. A keen athlete himself, Shullai recounted how he had also practised karate in his youth at a time when there were very few instructors in Meghalaya, apart from the late great Stephan Leong.
Karate has now grown exponentially and has put down deep roots in the state, as the chief guest at the opening ceremony, former champion archer and administrator Matsiewdor War Nongbri IAS had said.
The standard of karate has continued to improve year after year and 2025 was no different. With the National Games 2027, which Meghalaya will host, only a little more than a year away, karatekas are devoting hours, weeks and months to their training and the fruits are already paying off.
Four individual awards were also presented for Best Karateka and all four went to athletes from East Khasi Hills – Ferrando Wanniang (Junior Boys category), Ferdinand Samkupar Rani (Senior Men), Emika Deimaia Myrthong (Junior Girls) and Rebeka Nongspung (Senior Women).
