Key points
- Shillong will host the NTPC Senior National Archery Championships from November 12 to 17 at the Parade Ground in Umsawli, Meghalaya.
- Around 1,000 athletes representing 44 associations are expected to compete over six days.
- The event combines the 46th Senior Recurve, 22nd Senior Compound and 33rd Senior Indian Round National Championships for men and women.
- Meghalaya will be represented by 23 archers at the home championships.
- Men's recurve qualification is scheduled to begin at 8am on November 12, followed by the opening ceremony at 10:30am and women's recurve qualification at noon.
- Compound events are scheduled to begin on November 13, Indian Round competitions on November 14, and the championship will conclude on November 17 with 15 gold-medal matches.
Shillong is preparing to host the NTPC Senior National Archery Championships from November 12 to 17, with around 1,000 athletes representing 44 associations expected to compete at the Parade Ground in Umsawli. Meghalaya will have 23 archers in the six-day competition, which brings together the senior national championships in recurve, compound and Indian Round for men and women.
The event is being organised by the Archery Association of Meghalaya under the aegis of the Archery Association of India, with support from the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya. The programme combines three national championships: the 46th Senior Recurve, 22nd Senior Compound and 33rd Senior Indian Round editions.
Six days of national-level competition
Athletes and officials are expected to begin arriving in Shillong on November 11. Competition is scheduled to begin the following morning with the men's recurve qualification round at 8am on November 12. The opening ceremony is planned for 10:30am, while the women's recurve qualification round is scheduled for noon.
The different formats will be staged across the following days. Compound events are due to begin on November 13, followed by the Indian Round competitions on November 14. The championship will conclude on November 17, when organisers have scheduled 15 gold-medal matches across individual, team and mixed-team events.
The scale of participation makes the championship a major national gathering for the sport. With approximately 1,000 competitors from 44 associations expected, the event will bring athletes from across the country to Meghalaya for the three senior disciplines.
Meghalaya to field 23 archers at home
The host state will be represented by 23 archers. Their participation gives Meghalaya a home platform in a championship that includes all three major formats featured in the national programme. The event also provides an opportunity for local athletes to compete against archers from associations across India.
The championship is being supported by the state's Department of Sports and Youth Affairs. Organisers have also said that the Parade Ground at Umsawli is expected to be developed into a Centre of Excellence for archery, giving the venue significance beyond the six-day competition.
Meghalaya has a strong traditional connection with archery, particularly through Siat Khnam, the traditional archery practice of the Khasi Hills. That heritage sits alongside the state's contribution to modern competitive archery and the Indian Round discipline.
Shillong's history with national archery
The return of the senior championships renews Shillong's long association with national-level archery. The city hosted the second Senior Recurve National Championship in October 1975, followed by the 10th edition in May 1986. In November 1999, Shillong hosted the 20th Senior Recurve and sixth Senior Indian Round National Championships together.
The city also staged the Junior National Championship in December 2011. The 2026 event therefore adds another major national competition to a history of hosting archers from across the country.
Meghalaya's role in the sport extends beyond hosting events. The late Woodward Sohliya is recognised as one of the pioneers of the Indian Round, which was created in 1989 and is one of the three formats included in the upcoming championships. The discipline's place in the programme gives the host state a direct connection to one of the competition's central events.
Recurve, compound and Indian Round in focus
The three formats will give the championship a broad programme. Recurve qualification opens the competition on November 12, with compound archery taking over from November 13 and Indian Round events beginning on November 14. The schedule then builds towards the medal matches on the final day.
Individual, team and mixed-team gold-medal contests are included in the November 17 programme. The 15 scheduled finals will determine the national champions across the categories covered by the three championships.
For the participating associations, the event is an opportunity to measure their senior athletes against national competition. For Meghalaya, it is also a chance to showcase its archery tradition, its athletes and its capacity to stage a large multi-discipline championship.
A significant event for archery in the Northeast
With the participation expected from 44 associations, Shillong will be at the centre of Indian senior archery for six days. The combination of recurve, compound and Indian Round events creates a substantial programme, while the presence of 23 local archers gives the host state a competitive interest throughout the meet.
The championship's conclusion on November 17 will bring the six-day schedule to a close with 15 gold-medal matches. Beyond the medal outcomes, the event will renew Shillong's place in the national archery calendar and underline Meghalaya's continuing links with both traditional and modern forms of the sport.
Frequently asked questions
When will the 2026 Senior National Archery Championships be held?
The NTPC Senior National Archery Championships are scheduled to run from November 12 to 17, 2026, in Shillong, Meghalaya. The six-day competition will feature recurve, compound and Indian Round events for men and women, with the final day set to include 15 gold-medal matches.
Where will the National Archery Championships take place?
The championships will be held at the Parade Ground in Umsawli, Shillong. The event is organised by the Archery Association of Meghalaya under the aegis of the Archery Association of India, with support from Meghalaya's Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
How many archers are expected at the Shillong national championships?
Organisers expect around 1,000 athletes representing 44 associations to take part in the six-day championships. The host state, Meghalaya, will field 23 archers across the competition, which brings together three senior national championship formats.
Which archery events will be included in the Shillong championships?
The programme combines the 46th Senior Recurve, 22nd Senior Compound and 33rd Senior Indian Round National Championships for men and women. Recurve qualification begins on November 12, compound events start on November 13 and Indian Round events are scheduled from November 14.
When will the archery championships conclude?
The championships are scheduled to conclude on November 17, 2026. The final day is set to feature 15 gold-medal matches across individual, team and mixed-team events. Athletes and officials are expected to begin arriving in Shillong on November 11.