The 6th edition of the U-16 Hangpan Dada Memorial Trophy on Football & Volleyball (Boys & Girls) has begun at the constituency and district levels. After conducting five successful editions of HDMT, the Department of Sports, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh has initiated organizing the tournament at the constituency and district level, which will conclude by the end of April. The winners of the district-level tournament will have the opportunity to participate in the state-level tournament, which is expected to take place in May 2023.
This CM flagship programme was introduced by then Chief Minister Shri Nabam Tuki, with the theme of mass participation is the primary objective of the competition. The tournament has been designed to be conducted at the Constituency, District, and State levels to encourage public interest and participation in these two popular sports.
In 2016, the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu renamed the tournament as the “Hangpan Dada Memorial Trophy on Football & Volleyball (Men & Women)” to honor the brave sacrifice of Lt. Havildar Hangpan Dada, who lost his life while fighting three terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir on 26th May 2016.
The State Level HDMT is the most extensive sports event in the state, with an approximate participation of 1500 participants in every edition, in line with the aim of promoting mass participation in sports.