ITANAGAR, Aug 29: The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, today celebrated National Sports Day with great enthusiasm to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, whose legacy laid the foundation of sporting excellence in India.
The state-level celebration was graced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Pema Khandu, as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, Shri Khandu paid rich tributes to Major Dhyan Chand, calling him an inspiration for generations of athletes and a true architect of India’s sporting glory.
The Chief Minister recalled that the Government of India launched the Fit India Movement on this day in 2019, with the aim of inspiring citizens to incorporate fitness and sports into their daily lives. “The Fit India Movement is not just about physical health but also about building a stronger, more disciplined, and healthier nation,” he said.
Reiterating the State Government’s commitment towards promoting sports, Shri Khandu highlighted the Sports Policy of Arunachal Pradesh, which provides cash incentives to meritorious sportspersons who achieve medals at national and international levels. On this occasion, the Department awarded cash incentives amounting to ₹250.00 lakhs to 411 sportspersons and 72 coaches for their outstanding performances during the year.
Shri Khandu also underlined major initiatives of the Government, including the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy, Chimpu, which is nurturing elite-level players with advanced training and sports science support. Additionally, 54 Khelo India Centres are now functioning across all districts of Arunachal Pradesh to promote grassroots sports development.
A special highlight of the occasion was the introduction of the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Sports Person Scholarship, launched in collaboration with GoSports Foundation. This flagship programme aims at identifying and nurturing elite talent with holistic support in the areas of high-performance training, world-class mentorship, coaching, and sports science interventions. Currently, 25 able-bodied athletes and 5 para-athletes from disciplines such as Badminton, Boxing, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Para Athletics, Para Shot Put, Para Javelin, Para Badminton, and Para Powerlifting have been inducted into the scholarship.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister lauded the achievements of Arunachal sportspersons at national and international levels and assured continued government support for creating a robust sports ecosystem in the state. “Our athletes have made us proud, and with sustained investment in talent development, Arunachal Pradesh is poised to emerge as a powerhouse in Indian sports,” Shri Khandu said.
The event concluded with felicitation of the medal winners and coaches, reaffirming the Government’s vision to empower sportspersons and take Arunachal Pradesh to greater sporting heights.(DIPRO)
