NBA Joint Secretary Dr N Janbemo Humtsoe (Left) and NBA Honorary Secretary Joseph Sumi (Middle) at the press conference, on November 6, announcing the Hornbill Festival Invitational Badminton Championship 2026. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 6
The Hornbill Festival Invitational Badminton Championship 2026 from December 2 to 5 at the Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence in Sovima, Chümoukedima. The Nagaland Badminton Association (NBA) is organising the tournament in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Youth Resources and Sports. Addressing a press conference in Chümoukedima on November 6, NBA Joint Secretary and Media Coordinator Dr N Janbemo Humtsoe stated that the tournament will be held in tandem with the Hornbill Festival.
“We want to take this opportunity of this great Hornbill Festival to promote the sport of badminton so that in the days to come, Nagaland can also produce good sports persons who can represent us in the national and international space,” Humtsoe said. He stated that the tournament also seeks to encourage physical activity among youth and draw sports enthusiasts to experience local culture and cuisine.
NBA Honorary Secretary and Organizing Secretary Joseph Sumi said that the competition includes nine categories— Under-15 Girls’ Singles, Under-17 Boys’ Doubles, Open Men’s Doubles, Open Women’s Doubles, and five combined-age veteran doubles divisions—75+, 85+, 95+, 105+, and 115+. For the veteran divisions, the minimum age for any individual player is 35 years. Participants are permitted to enter a maximum of three events.
The tournament carries a total prize purse of Rs 9 lakh. In each category, champions will receive Rs 50,000, runners-up will receive Rs 30,000, and both losing semi-finalists will receive Rs 10,000 each. The entry fee is set Rs 3000 per pair.
Sumi said urged local shuttlers to take part alongside players expected from across the country and neighboring nations.
Matches will follow a best-of-three games format to 15 points under standard badminton laws, using Hundred brand GT-50 or GT-8 shuttlecocks. Entrants must hold a Badminton World Federation ID, Badminton Association of India ID, NBA ID, or a national passport.
Registration is open through online and offline channels, with the entry deadline set for November 25. The initial entry list will appear on November 26, which is also the final date to withdraw with a refund. The final list will be issued on November 27 at 6:00 pm, followed by the draw on November 28 at 4:00 pm. A technical briefing is scheduled for December 1.
