By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 30: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday unveiled a major addition to its sports infrastructure with the inauguration of the Rs 132.9 crore Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Sports Complex at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Polo.
The project marked yet another significant milestone in the state’s emergence as a sports hub and reinforced its preparations for hosting the 39th National Games next year.
The occasion witnessed the signing of the revised Host State Contract for the National Games between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Meghalaya government.
The IOA was represented by its president P.T. Usha. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla, and the Meghalaya State Olympic Association represented the Meghalaya government.
The construction of the state-of-the-art Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Sports Complex, undertaken by Badri Rai and Company, was completed within two years and three months, well ahead of schedule.
Developed under the Meghalaya Eco-Tourism Infrastructure Development Project with support from the New Development Bank, the complex has been designed as a world-class sporting and hospitality facility. It features a 700-seat multipurpose indoor stadium for basketball, badminton and volleyball, besides a modern shooting range, squash courts, table tennis facilities, fitness centre, convention halls, banquet spaces, rooftop gardens, jogging tracks and other supporting infrastructure.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mandaviya said Meghalaya had become an important partner in India’s mission to strengthen sports infrastructure and promote sporting excellence among youth. He said hosting the National Games would mark the beginning of a larger sporting transformation in the state.
Announcing that Centre will establish a Rs 150 crore High Altitude Sports Centre in Meghalaya, he said the initiative would help nurture talent and position the state as a key destination for high-performance sports training.
Highlighting the ongoing construction of the Rs 732 crore international-standard football stadium in the state, he said Meghalaya was rapidly emerging as a hub for national and international sporting events.
The minister further stated that the Northeast, despite accounting for a small percentage of country’s population, contributes significantly to its sporting talent. He stressed the need for systematic investments to harness this potential.
Sangma described the integrated sports complex as a symbol of the state government’s strong commitment to investing in youth and sports development.
He recalled that Meghalaya’s annual sports expenditure stood at only Rs 65 crore when his government assumed office in 2018. He said the Rs 132.9 crore indoor complex alone reflected the scale of transformation achieved in this sector over the last eight years.
The true measure of success would not be the infrastructure itself but the achievements of athletes who emerge from Meghalaya to win medals for the nation, Sangma said. He described the 2027 National Games as a transformational opportunity that would inspire young sportspersons in Meghalaya and the Northeast to compete at the highest level.
Usha said the revised agreement reflected the collective commitment of all stakeholders to deliver a successful National Games while ensuring transparency, accountability and world-class standards.
She said Meghalaya was not merely preparing to host a sporting event but laying the foundation for a lasting sporting legacy that would inspire generations to come.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse was also present on the occasion.
