ITANAGAR, Mar 8: Arunachal Pradesh emerged as overall champion in the 1st East Zone Grappling Seminar & Championship-2026 held at DK Badminton Hall near Lok Bhawan here today.
Prizes, certificates, trophies and medals were given on the final day of the championship on Sunday afternoon, amid the presence of a huge gathering and eminent personalities.
The prizes, medals, trophies and certificates were given away by several eminent personalities of the State, including Sports & Youth Minister Kento Jini who was accompanied by former Minister and Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) president Taba Tedir, AOA secretary general Bamang Tago and others.
Participants from 11 states of the country, including eight North Eastern states and Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, took part in the three-day championship, organized by the Grappling Association of Arunachal Pradesh (GAAP), witnessed enthusiastic participation from athletes across the East Zone, as more than 180 players competed, showcasing exceptional skill, discipline, and sportsmanship.
After intense competition across multiple categories, Team Arunachal Pradesh, comprising 25 participants, emerged as overall champions of the tournament. West Bengal secured the second position, followed by Bihar, which finished third in overall standings.
Sports Minister Kento Jini appreciated the efforts of the organizers and highlighted the importance of promoting combat sports and providing platforms for young athletes to showcase their talents.
Taba Tedir lauded the successful organization of the championship and encouraged athletes to continue striving for excellence at national and international levels.
Grappling Federation of India general secretary Subodh Kumar Yadav, and GAAP resident Loku Sono also spoke on the occasion.
GFI Technical Director Partha S Sarkar, International referees form United World Wrestling (UWW) Supriya Samanta, Sona Ghoshal, national referees from GFI, including Priyesh Kumar, Sweta Jana, Anamika Kumari and Shyamal Acharjee were also present on the occasion.