Pema Khandu Doubles Annual Support for Dorjee Khandu Memorial Badminton Championship to ₹50 Lakh
Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the increase in annual financial support as he inaugurated the five-day 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship in Itanagar.
ITANAGAR- Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday announced that the annual financial support for the Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship will be doubled from ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh, beginning with this year’s edition. He also assured that the enhanced allocation would continue for subsequent editions.
Khandu made the announcement while inaugurating the five-day 13th Dorjee Khandu Memorial State Badminton Championship-2026 at the Khelo India Indoor Stadium in Itanagar.
The increase in funding, according to the Chief Minister, is aimed at strengthening Arunachal Pradesh’s badminton ecosystem and providing young players with a larger platform to compete and progress. The annual championship, organised by the Arunachal State Badminton Association (ASBA) in memory of former Chief Minister Late Dorjee Khandu, has now completed 13 editions and has become an important state-level platform for emerging badminton players.
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A major focus of the government’s sports push is also the proposed Dorjee Khandu Badminton Academy. Khandu said a 20,700-square-metre plot near Sange Lhaden Sports Academy has been earmarked for the project and construction of the academy, which will have 20 badminton courts, is already underway.
The Chief Minister said the completed academy could enable Arunachal Pradesh to host international-level badminton competitions, potentially giving the state a larger role on the national and international badminton circuit.
The current championship is itself being hosted at a modern facility developed under the Khelo India Scheme, with around five badminton courts available at the Khelo India Indoor Stadium. Khandu said improved infrastructure, combined with growing technical expertise among local players, was helping young athletes realise their potential.
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The Chief Minister also highlighted the state’s wider progress in sports infrastructure and performance. He said Arunachal Pradesh secured second position among the northeastern states in the latest National Games ranking and expressed confidence that the state would retain or improve its position when Meghalaya hosts the next edition of the National Games.
Khandu attributed part of the infrastructure expansion to the national focus on sports, particularly through the Khelo India initiative, which he said has helped address infrastructure gaps that previously limited opportunities for talented athletes.
He also highlighted the Chief Minister’s Sports Scholarship Scheme (CMSSS), launched last year. The scheme currently supports around 30 athletes across nine sports disciplines. In its first year, athletes supported under the programme collectively secured around 75 medals, including participation in 13 international competitions, according to the Chief Minister.
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Among the athletes highlighted was para-badminton player Biri Takar, who recently represented India at the Brazil Para Badminton International 2026 and won a gold medal. Khandu described the achievement during the first year of the scholarship scheme as a matter of pride for Arunachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister also named several young badminton players making their mark at national and regional levels, including Taku Manku, Samuel Tamang, 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 is a five-time North East champion in women’s doubles.
Emphasising the importance of grassroots development, Khandu urged senior coaches and district badminton associations to identify promising players early and provide them with sustained training and opportunities.
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“Talent is not lacking in Arunachal Pradesh,” he said, stressing that the priority should be early identification, appropriate training and continued opportunities for young athletes.
The 13th championship has brought together 402 players, including 95 girls, from different districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Over the five-day event, a total of 543 matches will be played across 28 events, with the tournament serving both as a competitive platform and an avenue to identify emerging talent.
The combination of increased championship funding, the proposed 20-court academy and expanded athlete support indicates a broader effort to build a sustainable badminton ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh, from grassroots identification to higher-level competition.
