Abu Metha addressing press conference in Kohima on April 10. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 10
Nagaland will be hosting the Annual General Meeting 2026 of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) at Hotel Vivor, Kohima from April 14 to 15.
Nagaland Athletics Association (NAA) president Abu Metha announced this while addressing a press conference here today at Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) office.
Metha, who is also Vice President of AFI said “This will be the first time that a national sports federation is having an Annual General Meeting here in Nagaland.”
This is really historic. It’s a red-letter event, he said adding that it is also a matter of great pride and joy for the entire Nagaland.
He said that the AFI is taking this step “because the federation believes in inclusivity, it believes in diversity, and it believes in using the platform of sport to promote national integration, national unity.”
Metha said that AFI is also taking this opportunity to spread its wings and to create opportunities for the entire country through the platform of sport to have a sense of belonging to the national mainstream and to contribute to the nation-building process.
He said that close to a hundred delegates from all over the country, every state of the Indian Union, Union Territories, sports boards, corporate partners and representatives of the private sector will be part of the meeting.
The meeting is also expecting legendary athletes, former sportspersons, National Award winners, Arjuna Awardees.
We will be welcoming the entire executive of the Athletics Federation of India. We will be welcoming the President of the South Asian Athletic Federation. We will be welcoming the Vice President of World Athletics, amongst many others, he said.
Legendary sportspersons like Bahadur Singh, Anju Bobby George, Jyoti, and many others will also join the meeting.
Metha said that the Annual General Meeting will not only discuss about the activities of the Athletic Federation of India, but it will work on a strategic roadmap for the Indian team preparation for the forthcoming Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship, World Indoor Championship, World Under-20 Championships, and a number of international events which India will be participating.
Metha said that a strategic roadmap will be prepared.
The meeting will also discuss preparation of Indian team and coaching camp.
“We will also discuss development and promotion of athletics, how to spread athletic development across the country, infrastructure development, and also how to bring the Northeast and Nagaland into international ecosystem,” Metha said.
Today, with this AGM coming here, we hope that we will be taking some historic decisions, which will benefit generations to come, athletes, youth, the sports fraternity, Metha added.
Meanwhile, NAA thanked AFI for selecting Nagaland as the host.
Meanwhile, Metha congratulated all the medal winners of Nagaland team at the recently concluded 1st Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 at Chhattisgarh.
“Nagaland team did exceptionally well. It was the first time we were participating and we won a number of medals,” he said.
Stating that Nagaland won three medals, one each Gold, Silver and Bronze in athletics, Metha said “ It shows that there is potential, there is scope, there is talent in Nagaland. And with more attention, with more support, we are confident that our athletes will do well.”
