The first Nagaland State Judo Championship will be held at Eden Academy, Mokokchung, from September 10 to 12, with players from Zunheboto, Phek, Mon, Meluri, Dimapur, Peren, Kohima and Mokokchung set to participate.
The three-day championship is being organised by the Nagaland Judo Association (NJA) under the theme, “United by Judo, Driven by Excellence.”
The championship will have categories for boys and girls as well as men and women, covering sub-junior, junior, cadet and senior age groups across various weight categories.
Announcing the championship at a press conference on Thursday, NJA president I Temsu Jamir said the state-level meet would provide judokas from different parts of Nagaland an opportunity to compete against one another and gain competitive exposure.
NJA vice-president and tournament convenor Rongsentoshi Jamir and general secretary and tournament director Somnath Chakraborty were also present.
The host will provide lodging and fooding for all participating players during the championship, the association said.
The NJA was formed in 2019 with the objective of promoting judo and creating opportunities for young athletes to train and compete. Since then, it has conducted coaching programs, grading examinations, selection trials and competitions.
The association has also been trying to expand judo beyond a single centre and increase participation from different districts.
In 2023, the NJA organised a state-level judo tournament exclusively for women under the Khelo India Dus Ka Dum initiative.
The association has also been sending athletes for national-level exposure. In November 2025, it conducted an open selection trial for the Sub-Junior National Judo Championship 2025-26 in the presence of an official observer from the Judo Federation of India.
In August this year, two girls from Nagaland participated in the KV School National Judo Championship held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, from August 29 to 31.
In 2026, the association also participated in the Northeast Japan Caravan, where its judokas conducted a judo demonstration at the State Academy Hall in Kohima
The NJA said the state championship is aimed at identifying talented athletes, encouraging district-level participation and strengthening the pathway for judokas seeking to compete at national and higher levels.
The association also wants to increase women’s participation and develop a stronger judo system in the state, including through the development of coaches and technical officials.