Gangtok, October 2 (IPR): Sikkim will host the Yonex-Sunrise 49th Inter-State, Inter-Zonal & Junior National Badminton Championships 2026 from November 14 to 21 at the Indoor Hall, Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, marking the first time the State will host the prestigious national-level junior badminton championship.
The official mascot and logo of the event were digitally unveiled today at MG Marg, Gangtok, on the occasion of the 157th Gandhi Jayanti celebration, in the presence of Governor of Sikkim Mr Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Mr Prem Singh Tamang.
The mascot and logo were presented by President, Badminton Association of Sikkim (BAS)cum Political Secretary to HCM, Mr Jacob Khaling, along with executive members of BAS, and formally unveiled by the Governor and the Chief Minister.
The championship has also been accorded the status of a State Event by the Government of Sikkim. The official notification to this effect was presented to the dignitaries by Minister for Education, Sports & Youth Affairs and Law & Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Raju Basnet, and Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Ms Yangchen D Tamang.
As part of the preparations, Ms Neha Meherwal, Promotion Head, Yonex Sunrise India, signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Badminton Association of Sikkim. A token of appreciation was also presented to Ms Meherwal on the occasion.
Organised by the Badminton Association of Sikkim under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India, the event will feature Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles in the Under-19 age category, bringing together leading junior badminton players from across the country.
The hosting of the championship is expected to provide a significant platform for the development of badminton in Sikkim, while giving local players and the sporting community an opportunity to witness and engage with high-level national competition.
A tournament memento was subsequently presented to Governor Mr Om Prakash Mathur on the occasion.
The event is also expected to provide an opportunity for Sikkim to showcase its sporting infrastructure and organisational capabilities while strengthening the State’s presence on the national sporting calendar.
Report from DIO-GANGTOK