Itanagar, September 5: The Executive Body of the Arunachal Golf Association (AGA) met on September 4 at the office of the Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) in Itanagar to discuss the structured development of golf in Arunachal Pradesh and prepare a roadmap for greater representation of the state at national and international events.
The meeting was chaired by AGA president Wanglat Lowangcha and attended by AGA vice president Maj Gen Jarken Gamlin, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd), AOA secretary general Bamang Tago, AGA secretary general Bamang Buru and other members.
During the meeting, AGA secretary general Bamang Buru informed the house that the association is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, as extended to Arunachal Pradesh by Act 6 of 1978, and is affiliated with both the Arunachal Olympic Association and the Sports Authority of Arunachal, Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
Buru highlighted the association’s participation and achievements in competitive golf. AGA represented Arunachal Pradesh at the Northeast Olympic Games in Shillong in 2022, with the contingent comprising L. Wanglat, Maj Gen Jarken Gamlin, Cdr M. Panggin, Col (Retd) Panggin, Marto Ori and Khungam Manchey. The team secured fourth position among eight state contingents, while Col Panggin won the individual Best Net title.
The association also highlighted several notable individual performances by golfers from the state. In 2025, AGA member Captain Dr Lobsang Dondup, a naval officer, won the Patron-in-Chief Cup. On April 17, Col (Retd) Panggin won the IGU Senior Golf Team event.
More recently, in July 2026, L. Wanglat finished runner-up in the 70-and-above category at the Centara World Amateur Championship in Hua Hin. The four-day championship featured 436 players and was described as Asia’s largest golf event. The association, however, noted that despite the presence of such talent, Arunachal Pradesh is yet to develop a structured golf ecosystem capable of consistently nurturing and promoting golfers.
A key resolution of the meeting was to explore the establishment of a golf course in Arunachal Pradesh. The association also resolved to invite all golf clubs owned or controlled by individuals, Central government agencies, public sector undertakings and Central paramilitary organisations operating in the state to affiliate with the AGA.
Reaffirming the association’s position, AOA secretary general Bamang Tago stated that AGA is the only apex golf body of Arunachal Pradesh recognised by the Arunachal Olympic Association. He said the AOA, as the state’s apex sports body, would protect and promote the rights of indigenous golfers of Arunachal Pradesh so that they receive opportunities to compete, win medals and bring recognition to the state and the country.
Tago also raised concerns over the functioning of some state-level sports associations headed by persons who, according to him, are not indigenous to Arunachal Pradesh and represent the state without being domiciled there. He acknowledged their contribution to the development and security of the state and the nation, but maintained that such contribution does not entitle anyone to take away the rights and opportunities of indigenous sportspersons.
He said that, if required, the AOA would identify such associations and take action in accordance with law and applicable sports statutes. The AOA also appealed to unauthorised bodies to stop functioning in the name of Arunachal Pradesh as state-level sports associations.
Citing International Olympic Charter Rule 41, Tago said nationality and domicile are mandatory requirements for representing a country or state. He further referred to the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, which, according to him, upholds the Olympic Charter and universal principles of good governance and requires national sports bodies to align with those standards.
Tago also referred to Rule 27.2 of the Constitution of the Indian Olympic Association, which requires office-bearers to be residents of the state and members of affiliated state sports associations.
Buru added that under the Constitution of the Arunachal Olympic Association, only a permanent resident or domicile of Arunachal Pradesh is eligible to serve as an office-bearer or represent the state in an official capacity.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on strengthening the institutional framework for golf in Arunachal Pradesh, bringing existing golf clubs under a common state-level structure and creating better opportunities for talented golfers to compete at national and international levels.
