Shillong, Jul 27: Sunrays Secondary School pulled off a brilliant run to emerge as Overall Champions of the boys’ division in the 32nd Inter School Karate Tournament, which concluded here on Saturday. The girls’ title was claimed by Synod Higher Secondary School.
Sunrays won 18 medals (8 gold, 6 silver, 4 bronze) in the boys’ division and Synod 19 (3 gold, 6 silver, 10 bronze) in the girls’ division.
St Anthony’s HSS, who were champions last year, finished runners-up among the boys with 22 medals (5 gold, 6 silver, 11 bronze), while Sacred Heart Girls HSS were second in the girls’ category (3 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze).
The three-day tournament was organised by the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association from 23 to 25 July with support of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs in the Multipurpose Indoor Hall at the Sports Authority of India centre on the NEHU Shillong campus.
A record-breaking 802 karatekas from 126 schools signed up for the annual tournament from Khasi-Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills from the tender age of 6 and up. There were almost an equal number of girls and boys who took part – 391 and 411 respectively, demonstrating the ever increasing popularity of karate among the youth of Meghalaya, some of whom will no doubt go on to represent the state and nation on bigger stages.
One such rising star is Daniel Dabiangbha Warjri, who won a gold for India at the 10th South Asian Karate Championship 2026 and returned to Shillong only on 21 July before winning gold for St Anthony’s HSS in the individual kumite boys’ junior +61kg category. He and Gideon Tympuin, who took bronze in individual men’s U-21 kata at the pan-South Asian event, were both felicitated by AMKA on the opening day. Gideon was one of the officials for the inter-school tournament.
Individual awards for the Best Karatekas in the junior and senior boys’ and girls’ categories were also presented. These went to Daaron R Warjri of Christian Academy HSS (junior boys), Pusaimi I Kyndiah of Loompyrdi Iongpiah Upper Primary School, Jowai (senior boys), Emma T Kharwansuk of Stonyland Secondary School (junior girls) and Asenka Beryl Marwein of St Joseph’s HSS (senior girls).
The tournament was opened by Meghalaya State Olympic Association Working President and chief guest John F Kharshiing on Thursday in the presence of MSOA General Secretary Finely L Pariat as guest of honour. The chief guest at the closing ceremony was Ivan Benson Diengdoh, the East Khasi Hills Additional Superintendent of Police, while the guest of honour was Alan Niangti, the President of the West Jaintia District Karate Association.
