Shillong, April 1: Meghalaya successfully hosted the first edition of the Indian Sailing League (ISL) at the Orchid Sports Complex, Umiam, concluding with a grand closing ceremony. The five-day event featured 182 participants, including 58 international sailors from Russia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.
Bhopal Tritons emerged as champions of the inaugural league, while AJ’s Vizag Viking finished second and the home team Shillong Umiam Navigators (SUN) secured third place. Deccan Skippers, VIR Cholas, and Pune Peshwas ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively. Teams and individual winners shared a total prize pool of ₹1.5 crores.
Chaitanya Awasthi, IAS, Sub-Divisional Officer of Ri-Bhoi District, praised the sailors’ talent, sportsmanship, and determination. He commended the organizers for meticulous planning and highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent for international competitions, including the Olympics.
Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC (retd), former Chief of Naval Staff and President of the Yachting Association of India (YAI), credited the success of the event to Meghalaya’s infrastructure and support. He noted the YAI’s goals of developing grassroots talent, securing international medals, and promoting sailing, adding that the inaugural league advanced all three objectives.
Alok Kumar Yadav, League Commissioner of ISL, emphasized the focus on fairness, engagement, and innovation, expressing optimism for the next season of the league.
The competition included categories such as ILCA 4 boys and girls, ILCA 6 and 7, 420, Optimist, Techno 293, and Olympic classes, featuring formats like Rig-and-Race and transition events. Technical committees, international juries, umpires, race officers, commentators, and other officials were felicitated during the closing ceremony.
The league was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, under whose leadership the state has expanded its sports infrastructure. Meghalaya will next host the 4th North East Regatta from April 2–6, 2026, at Umiam, reinforcing its position as a hub for competitive water sports in India.
