Shillong: Meghalaya has proposed 39 sporting disciplines for the 39th National Games scheduled to be held in the state in March 2027, with the final list of events to be decided by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Alertson Nongbri said the proposed disciplines were discussed with the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) during its visit to the state, following which the IOA would take the final call on the sports to be included.
The proposed disciplines include archery, athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, handball, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, karate, lawn bowls, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, shooting, squash, sailing, triathlon, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, yogasana, arm wrestling, Muay Thai and sport climbing. Softball has also been proposed as a demonstration sport.
On the inclusion of taekwondo, despite the reported ban by the IOA, Nongbri said the state made the proposal considering the interests and potential of local athletes.
“We have our association here and we have our players. We have to think about the potential of our players. That is why we have made the proposal. It is up to the IOA to decide whether to include taekwondo or not,” he said.
The state has identified venues across Shillong, Jowai and Tura to host the competitions.
In Shillong, the venues include the JN Sports Complex, which will also host the opening ceremony, the integrated multipurpose hall at the complex, Shillong Sports Association football ground, Shillong Golf Club, NEHU campus, Sports Authority of India centre at NEHU, Lawsohtun Indoor Hall and Laban Indoor Hall.
In Jowai, the proposed venues are Wahiajer Sports Complex and Kiang Nangbah Sports Complex, while Umiam Lake has been identified for rowing and sailing and Umtham for kayaking.
In Tura, the venues include the PA Togan Stadium, PA Stadium Sports Complex and Sunny Hills Indoor Hall.
On expenditure incurred so far, Nongbri said the department could not provide an exact figure as the spending was part of an ongoing process. However, he said the government had invested substantially in sports infrastructure and support for various associations.
He also highlighted the government’s support for athletes through coaches, nutritionists and physiotherapists, besides the recently inaugurated High Performance Sports Science Centre at the JN Sports Complex. The facility will provide athletes with performance assessments, rehabilitation and other scientific support.
On monitoring the funds released to sports associations, Nongbri said the department is working closely with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA), with regular review meetings to assess preparations and address issues among associations.
MSOA working president John Kharshiing said the government constituted a Supervision and Monitoring Committee, with the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs as chairman and the Joint Secretary of the department and MSOA as co-chairpersons.
He said the committee regularly reviews the progress of associations and monitors the release and utilisation of funds through a dedicated departmental team.
Kharshiing added that the government also extended support to state associations by providing young professionals to assist with record-keeping, accounting and submission of reports, helping them improve their functioning and meet compliance requirements.
On the inclusion of disciplines such as rugby and fencing, where activities are still developing in the state, Kharshiing said the MSOA is awaiting the IOA’s final list before preparing a roadmap for associations that were yet to become fully operational.
He said more than 30 active associations were currently receiving government support, while discussions were underway to help less active associations prepare for the Games.
As per the present proposal, Meghalaya has suggested hosting 25 sports in Shillong, seven in Tura and two to three in the Jaintia Hills region. Kharshiing said the distribution would also be subject to approval by the GTCC.
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