Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla Co-Chairs High-Level Task Force Meeting on Promotion of Sports in Northeast

Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, along with Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, co-chaired the 2nd High-Level Task Force Meeting on the Promotion of Sports in the North Eastern Region through video conferencing on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, the Minister of Sports, Mizoram, Chief Secretaries of Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, as well as senior officials from the North Eastern Council, MDoNER, and state sports departments.

Discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening the sports ecosystem in the Northeast through key areas such as infrastructure development, coaching, talent identification, competition exposure, sports science, funding, and effective governance. The meeting also emphasized collaboration between the public and private sectors to accelerate progress in sports development across the region.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia underscored the need for a focused and practical approach, noting that success in sports relies not only on infrastructure but also on soft skills like coaching and talent scouting. He called for the establishment of committed coaching networks, grassroots talent identification programs, and local leagues and academies to nurture young athletes.

Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, reaffirmed the Central Government’s commitment to nurturing sports talent in the region. She highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to ensure that young athletes from the Northeast receive adequate infrastructure, training, and exposure to excel at both national and international levels.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla echoed the Ministers’ vision, stating that the initiatives will significantly strengthen sports in the Northeast by focusing on training, talent development, and local leagues, which will provide more opportunities for young players. He also emphasized that each state should leverage its unique strengths to develop specific sports disciplines and appreciated the Central Government’s continuous support in promoting sports infrastructure and talent development in the region.