Tura, May 9: With Meghalaya gearing up to host the 39th National Games in 2027, the state has officially begun scouting women football talent, as selection trials were held on Saturday at the Chandmari Artificial Football Turf in Tura.
Organised by the Meghalaya Football Association in collaboration with the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and the District Football Association (DFA), the trials marked the first major step towards building Meghalaya’s women’s football squad for the prestigious multi-sport event.
More than 50 players from different districts participated in the trials, which were supervised by five selectors from the MFA Women’s Committee. Officials described the turnout as encouraging, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for women’s football in the state and the effort to provide opportunities to players from remote regions who often miss out due to logistical challenges.
The MFA said the selection process is aimed at identifying technically strong and promising players who can be groomed through a structured development programme ahead of the National Games.
DFA officials also reiterated their commitment to strengthening women’s football at the grassroots level, announcing plans to organise more tournaments for female athletes to create a sustainable pathway for emerging talent in the Garo Hills region.
At the end of the trials, six players were shortlisted for the next phase of the programme. They are Bonkame Lamsa B. Marak (Jengjal Chiokgre), Dondime Domanchi M. Sangma (Mengkakgre), Norik G. Momin (Mendipather), Katchaan Chimik M. Sangma (Kharkutta), Dilchi G. Momin (Rongjeng), and Ajerik N. Marak (Dainadubi).
The Tura trials are part of a larger statewide scouting initiative being conducted by the MFA across Meghalaya. Selected players from different regions will later assemble in Shillong for final trials and a high-performance training camp to determine the squad that will represent Meghalaya at the 2027 National Games.
