A Coffee Table Book commemorating the historic Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), held in Kohima, Nagaland, was released by Dr Lalit K Bhanot, President of the South Asian Athletics Federation, at the AFI Headquarters in New Delhi on September 21.
The publication documents and commemorates the landmark AGM hosted in Kohima in June 2026, which marked the first occasion that Nagaland hosted the Annual General Meeting of a national sports federation.
The event brought the leadership and representatives of Indian athletics to Nagaland and represented an important milestone in the State’s growing engagement with national sporting institutions and its efforts to strengthen the sports ecosystem.
Dr Bhanot congratulated the Nagaland Athletics under the leadership of Abu Metha for organising the best AFI AGM in a meticulous manner and for giving all the delegates a memorable experience. He thanked the people of Nagaland for the warm hospitality and for making every delegate feel welcome. Dr Bhanot specially mentioned the support and contributions of the Nagaland Government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Dr Neiphiu Rio in making the AGM a grand success and for supporting sports in sportspersons in an exemplary manner.
Speaking on the occasion of the release, Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India, expressed his gratitude to Dr Bhanot and the leadership of AFI for their continued support and confidence in Nagaland.
He said that hosting the AGM in the iconic city of Kohima demonstrated Nagaland’s growing capacity to successfully organise and host important national-level sporting events and institutional engagements.
“The AGM was a historic occasion for Nagaland as it was the first time that our State hosted the Annual General Meeting of a national sports federation. We continue to set new benchmarks and push the envelope. Nagaland is capable of taking on bigger responsibilities, and we will continue to raise the bar, break new ground and punch above our weight,” Metha stated.
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Another significant outcome of the AGM was the signing of the Kohima Declaration, which marked an important milestone for Indian athletics. The Declaration is expected to contribute towards strengthening cooperation, institutional development and the continued growth and modernisation of athletics in the country in the years ahead.
Metha stated that the successful hosting of the AGM and the adoption of the Kohima Declaration reflected the confidence of national sporting institutions in Nagaland and underlined the State’s growing contribution to the national sporting landscape.
He further reiterated Nagaland’s commitment towards creating opportunities for young athletes, strengthening sporting infrastructure and institutions, and positioning the State as an increasingly important destination for national and international sporting events.
The Coffee Table Book captures the proceedings, significant moments and engagements surrounding the historic AGM and serves as a record of an important chapter in the sporting journey of Nagaland.
