NAHARLAGUN, 7 Sep: The first-ever ASMITA Rugby City Tournament 2026 was conducted at the Borum general ground, near the Naharlagun railway station in Papum Pare district, marking a significant step in the development and promotion of girls' rugby in Arunachal Pradesh.
Organised by the Directorate of Secondary Education, the tournament provided a competitive platform for young girls to participate in rugby and gain valuable exposure to the sport.
A total of 100 U-15 girls, representing 10 teams, participated in the tournament.
The event was part of the broader efforts to create greater opportunities for girls to participate in the sport, and to identify and nurture young sporting talent at the grassroots level.
Speaking in the opening ceremony, Secondary Education Assistant Director (Sports) Takam Pate highlighted the growing potential of rugby in the state and the importance of providing opportunities for young athletes to develop their sporting abilities.
"Rugby will be a milestone in Arunachal Pradesh one day. We have to create opportunities for the future generation of our youth. The directorate will try to participate in the National School Games rugby events in the Under-14 and Under-17 boys' and girls' categories," he said.
Pate encouraged the young players to remain committed to their sporting journey, continue improving their skills, and make full use of opportunities to represent Arunachal at higher levels of competition.
