Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Monday reviewed the sports infrastructure and athlete development initiatives in Mizoram, stressing the need for stronger facilities, quality coaching and better competitive opportunities for young sportspersons from the Northeast.
During her visit to Aizawl, Khadse met Mizoram Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services Lalnghinglova Hmar and held discussions on strengthening Centre-State coordination in the sports sector. The meeting covered infrastructure development, identification and nurturing of emerging talent and measures to provide athletes from Mizoram and the wider Northeast with greater opportunities to compete at national and international levels.
Khadse later visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Aizawl, where she inspected the existing facilities and interacted with athletes, coaches and support personnel. SAI Assistant Director Shivam Yadav was also present.
Speaking with the athletes, the Minister took note of their training programmes, competition experiences and future aspirations. She underlined the importance of providing athletes with a comprehensive support system, including modern coaching, sports science, nutrition, rehabilitation facilities and regular exposure to high-level competitions.
She said the Northeast has considerable sporting potential and that institutional support must be strengthened to help talented youngsters make the transition from grassroots participation to elite competition.
The government is also expanding sports infrastructure in Mizoram under the Khelo India programme. A project to install a synthetic hockey turf along with lighting facilities at the SAI Training Centre in Aizawl is expected to further improve training opportunities for hockey players in the state.
Khadse highlighted Mizoram's strong sporting tradition, particularly in football and hockey, and said the achievements of athletes from the state demonstrate the potential that can be unlocked through sustained investment and structured training.
She also cited Lalremsiami Hmarzote as an example of Mizoram's sporting talent. She became the state's first female Olympian and its first Asian Games medallist after undergoing training at the SAI academy in Thenzawl before progressing to the national level. She has also been selected for the Arjuna Award 2025, becoming the first sportsperson from Mizoram to receive the prestigious honour.
The Minister said developing a successful athlete requires more than infrastructure, with coaching, sports science, nutrition, rehabilitation and competition exposure playing equally important roles.
She further stressed that the Northeast's strong sporting culture and pool of talented youngsters can make a significant contribution to India's sporting ambitions.
The visit reaffirmed the Centre's focus on expanding sports opportunities in the Northeast and creating a more accessible and athlete-focused ecosystem that can help more young sportspersons from Mizoram and the region compete at the highest level.
