The Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, visited Aizawl in Mizoram to assess the current state of sports infrastructure and opportunities in the state. She met with state sports officials, athletes and coaches at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre. The visit forms part of efforts by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to strengthen sporting pathways for young people in the Northeast region.
What was reviewed and discussed
During her visit, Smt. Khadse met with Pu Lalnghinglova Hmar, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services of Mizoram. Their discussions centred on improving coordination between the central and state governments, developing sports facilities, identifying and training sporting talent, and creating better opportunities for young athletes from Mizoram and the broader Northeast.
At the SAI Aizawl centre, Smt. Khadse examined the existing sports infrastructure and spoke with athletes, coaches and support personnel about their training regimens, competition experience and future goals. She stressed the need for young sportspeople from the Northeast to receive access to quality coaching, scientific training methods, injury recovery support, proper nutrition and competitive experience that can help them progress to national and international levels.
A significant infrastructure project under the Khelo India Scheme is underway at the SAI Training Centre in Aizawl. This project involves laying a synthetic hockey turf and installing lighting facilities, aimed at improving hockey infrastructure in the state.
Smt. Khadse highlighted the example of Lalremsiami Hmarzote, Mizoram’s first female Olympian and first Asian Games medallist. After training at the SAI academy in Thenzawl, she progressed to national level competition. She has been selected for the Arjuna Award 2025, making her the first sportsperson from Mizoram to receive this honour.
What this means for you
Young athletes in Mizoram seeking to pursue sports seriously now have improved access to centrally supported training facilities and coaching. The Khelo India Scheme and SAI’s presence in the state create structured pathways for talented sportspeople to develop skills and compete at higher levels. The focus on strengthening local infrastructure means athletes need not necessarily relocate to pursue their sporting ambitions, and better facilities and coaching support should be available closer to home.