Tura, June 13: The inaugural edition of the Garo Hills Veteran Badminton Championship concluded on Saturday in Tura, bringing together more than 100 veteran shuttlers and marking a significant milestone for sports promotion among older athletes in the region.

Organised by the West Garo Hills District Badminton Association (WGHDBA), the three-day championship was held at the Indoor Sports Hall in Hawakhana from June 11 to 13 and was open exclusively to players aged 35 years and above residing or working in the Garo Hills region.

The tournament witnessed the participation of 102 players, including 70-year-old C.R. Marak, the oldest participant, underscoring the event’s focus on encouraging lifelong engagement in sports and healthy living.
Beyond providing a competitive platform for veteran players, the championship aimed to promote physical fitness, healthy lifestyles and camaraderie among participants while addressing growing health concerns through active sports participation.

Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Vibhor Agarwal, who attended the closing ceremony as chief guest, lauded the efforts of local sports associations in nurturing sporting talent and expanding opportunities for athletes across the region.

Highlighting Meghalaya’s growing sports infrastructure, Agarwal noted the ongoing construction of indoor stadiums and other facilities aimed at providing athletes with better training opportunities and competitive exposure.
Former MLA Billykid A. Sangma and Sengkham D. Shira, Senior T.O., MFS, West Garo Hills, also attended the event and distributed trophies, certificates and prizes to the winners.

The championship featured men’s doubles events across four combined-age categories — 75+, 85+, 95+ and 105+. To ensure a balanced and competitive field, each participant was allowed to compete in a maximum of two categories.

The final day witnessed several closely contested matches.

In the 105+ category, Swapan Kumar Das and Sujeet Shira emerged champions after defeating Sengrang Shira and Walsang Sangma in the final.

Swapan Kumar Das enjoyed a particularly successful outing, partnering Heliard Marak to capture titles in both the 85+ and 95+ categories. In both finals, the pair overcame Andybirth G. Sangma and Sengrang Shira, who finished runners-up.

In the 75+ category, Salrak Marak and Andybirth G. Sangma clinched the title after defeating Jaseng and Michael in the championship match.

Organisers described the inaugural tournament as a major success and expressed hope that it would become a regular fixture on the sporting calendar, providing veteran athletes from across Garo Hills an opportunity to remain active, competitive and connected through sport.

The championship also highlighted the growing popularity of badminton in the region and the increasing emphasis on promoting sports and wellness across all age groups.