Shillong, Dec 15: Proud moment for Meghalaya Sport with Inauguration of marquee P.A. Sangma Football Stadium The Government of Meghalaya proudly announces a significant milestone in the sporting infrastructure legacy of the State with the scheduled inauguration of the Football Stadium at the P.A. Sangma Sports Complex on the 16th of December, 2022.
A stadium of great historical significance, the stadium was originally constructed in 2006 by the Late Shri P.A. Sangma and named the M.P. Stadium.The ground served as a multi-purpose stadium that saw football, athletics, and many other sports conducted. The stadium has hosted the Tura Football League and the Subroto Cup since its creation.
It has also been the epicentre of significant gatherings in the state that are not sport related, especially during Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations. The upgradation of this stadium is a massive undertaking by the Government of Meghalaya, which has been funded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the State Government.
A technological marvel, the football stadium is India’s largest pre-engineered composite football stadium with a capacity of 9500. In addition to the football Stadium, the P.A. Sangma sports complex has two large indoor halls under construction, which will include a 25m x 20m swimming pool, badminton hall of 6 courts, a Table Tennis hall, 4 Squash Courts, Cafeteria, office and administrative spaces.
The construction of the complex began in January 2021, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, the State Sports Council of Meghalaya and the construction team have made the football stadium available for use in less than 2 years.
The entire complex (including the football stadium and two indoor halls), amounting to 127.7 Crore in total, will be inaugurated by the end of 2023. The Government is keen to enable the community in Tura and the surrounding area to use the world class natural turf.
The clubs and associations and general public can immediately start using the field of play, north and south stands after the inauguration. The inauguration will include an exhibition match between the Meghalaya State team and a team sent by North East United Football Club. A cultural event will follow the match, which would include a drone show and fireworks.
The Honourable Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K. Sangma would be the Chief Guest at the occasion. Shri James Sangma, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare Department etc., Govt. of Meghalaya, would be the Guest of Honour at the event. The construction of the complex and its readiness is a significant moment for the city of Tura and the sporting community of the area.
Infrastructure like the Chandmari Stadium has already started hosting training and events. Further, the additional infrastructure like the track and field arena and the indoor stadium at Sunny Hill is under construction.
The Government has also made significant progress to improve the sporting infrastructure across the state. The upgradation of the JN Stadium (Polo Ground, Shillong) will be complete in March 2023.
A new state-of-the-art world class indoor stadium is being built, which includes a shooting range, badminton court basketball court, and convention spaces. The Wahiajer Stadium near Jowai is another marquee project ready to be unveiled in January 2023.
Since the formulation of the Meghalaya Sports Policy in 2019, the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has made considerable efforts to develop the sports ecosystem and engage the youth of the State.
This includes the realignment of the ecosystem under the Government and collaboration with the State Olympic Association, revolutionizing the way sports is perceived in Meghalaya. The re-institution of the Meghalaya Games after 16 years has inspired many other states to follow suit and begin state-level multi-sports events.
The recently concluded 2nd North East Olympic Games have been a great success, with the performance of Meghalaya athletes being a matter of pride. The organisation of the event by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has received plaudits from participating states and national media alike.
The Government has also incentivized athletes of Meghalaya to pursue excellence in the form of the Cash Awards and Scholarship Schemes. Over Rupees 4 Crores have already been disbursed to nearly 2000 beneficiaries in this year alone.
In partnership with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association, the Government has also started the STAR Talent Identification Program, where 200 children from across Meghalaya have been shortlisted as high-potential athletes based on scientific testing.
These athletes will undergo a guided training routine, with accountable protocols for improvement. Each of these programs and schemes have been implemented and developed by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, with the ambition to create a sustainable sporting ecosystem, one that creates champions at national and international level for Meghalaya.
