Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026 21:30 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 15:54 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Six teams from Sikkim and neighbouring North Bengal are taking part in the Senior Women’s Football League 2026 being organised by Sikkim Football Association (SFA).
Generali Central Insurance Company is the title sponsor for the league featuring four teams from Sikkim and one team each from Darjeeling and Siliguri. The league, to kick-off here at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok from February 24, was announced by SFA and Generali Central Insurance executives here on Tuesday.
The participating teams are Gangtok Himalayan Sporting Club (Gangtok district), Singling Sporting Club (Soreng district), Northerners Football (Mangan district), and Chujachen Sports Academy (Pakyong district) from Sikkim, and Darjeeling XI and Milan More Football Academy, Siliguri from North Bengal.
The six teams will face each other in the league stage with the top four advancing to the semi-final round. All the matches will be played at Paljor Stadium.
We have scheduled the league-cum-knockout tournament’s final on March 8 coinciding it with the International Women’s Day, said SFA president Menla Ethenpa while announcing the Senior Women’s Football League 2026.
The tournament winner will receive a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh while the runners up will take home a cash prize of Rs. 50,000. The ‘woman of the tournament’ will be awarded with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000. The ‘women of the match’ will receive Rs. 5,000 at every match, it was informed.
Ethenpa extended sincere gratitude from the SFA to Generali Central Insurance for coming forward as a title sponsor for development of women football in the region. Generali Central Insurance has taken a bold step and also showed to other big companies of India the way forward on development of women’s football in India, he said.
“Generali Central Insurance coming on board as a title sponsor for the senior women’s league marks a defining moment for women’s football in the region. This league is not just a tournament, it is a platform of opportunity, confidence and visibility for women athletes,” said the SFA president.
Generali Central Insurance MD & CEO Anup Rau, chief marketing, customer & impact officer (Guwahati) Ruchika Varma and senior officials of the company were also present at the launching ceremony.
By providing necessary financial support through this sponsorship of Senior Women’s Football League 2026, the company aims to provide an impetus to the league elevating it to national standards and creating a sustainable ecosystem for women athletes in the region. With growing national attention on women’s sports and India’s expanding participation in international competitions, State-level leagues are critical to building depth in the talent pipeline, said Generali Central Insurance.
On the occasion, Rau said: “Generali Central Insurance coming on board as a title sponsor for the Senior Women’s League marks a defining moment for women’s football in the region. This league is not just a tournament, it is a platform of opportunity, confidence and visibility for women athletes.”
The move to sponsor the women’s football league, which aligns with the company’s core philosophy of ensuring DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) in every step of the way, would go a long way in professionalising women’s sports in the region, said the company.
Varma added: “Supporting women in sport aligns naturally with our belief that access to opportunity must be equal. Through our various DEI initiatives, we have focused on expanding representation, enabling leadership pathways, and supporting women’s ambition across sectors. Partnering with the Senior Women’s Football League in Sikkim brings that commitment to life on the field. It gives visibility to talent, creates aspiration at the grassroots, and reinforces our belief that when women are empowered, communities thrive.”
Generali Central Insurance Company Limited (formerly known as Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited) is a strategic joint venture between two distinguished financial institutions: the Generali Group, a global insurance enterprise with 193 years of operational heritage holding a 74% majority stake, and the Central Bank of India, India's first commercial bank with 113 years of established banking excellence.
Established in 2006, the company was set up with a clear mandate to offer retail, commercial, personal, and rural insurance solutions, enabling individuals and businesses to effectively manage and mitigate risks. Generali Central Insurance (GCI) broke even in FY 2013-14 - a landmark achievement in just six years of operations.
