By The Editor
Sports Policy, formulated by Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of
Meghalaya was introduced in 2019 for the purposes of strengthening sports eco-system and engaging youth of the state. Great efforts have been made to provide training with best facilities at its disposal so that local youth and athletes can improve their skill and rise up to the challenge of competing not only at the national level but also internationally. Grass root infrastructures in sports numbering 318 are being developed in various parts of the state and will be equipped with latest tools and accessories which will be made up-to-date as time passes. Government has started talent identification program for athletes across the state, especially in far-flung villages where number is quite encouraging from past experiences. Program aims to spot and identify young boys and girls in age groups 10-18 who have talents and potentialities and next step is to impart training by qualified and dedicated personnel. During first phase of the program 4,600 children were tested on international standards for their athletic abilities and result was very encouraging. Cash Award Scheme for sports Achievers has been launched and about Rs 3.14crores have been rightly earned by about 3,000 athletes.
On Friday December 16 in grand ceremony at Tura, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma
inaugurated the long-cherished P.A Sangma Football Stadium at the P.A. Sangma Sports
Complex. Up-gradation of this stadium was not an easy task which the state government
successfully completed and which the public too applauded. The stadium is indeed a
technological marvel with sizeable seating capacity of 9,500 and it is part of an equally
magnificent Sports Complex. Football stadium and two indoor stadiums stand over combined area of over 17,000 square meters. Indoor stadiums with gymnasium, swimming pool, table tennis hall, squash hall and badminton hall are expected to be ready for inauguration by December 2023. Stadium was venue of great historical events in the past as it witnessed Tura Football League and Subroto Cup since its inception in 2006.
On the inauguration day an exhibition football match was played between Meghalaya State
Team and North East United Football Club followed by grand cultural program with local bands and artists. The event concluded with amazing drone display and bright fireworks. Meanwhile, government is also taking up extensive improvement and additional large infrastructures in other important centres of the state like Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Stadium at Polo Grounds, Shillong, Wahiajer Stadium in West Jaintia Hills district and Indoor Stadium at Jongksha, East Khasi Hills district. It is also quite to recollect that the recent North East Olympic Games (NEOG) held in the state was grand success in which participants from all the eight NE states expressed their joy and satisfaction before departure.