Shillong, June 16: The Meghalaya Sports Conclave 2026 concluded today with substantive discussions on sports governance, digital transformation and holistic athlete development, bringing together leading athletes, officials, policymakers and experts from across the country.
Organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, the conclave reinforced Meghalaya’s growing role in shaping national conversations around sports development, coming at a pivotal moment as the State accelerates preparations to host the 39th National Games in 2027.
The event featured video presentations on Meghalaya’s sports governance, infrastructure development and talent identification programmes, spotlighting the State’s investments in building a future-ready sporting ecosystem.
These include total sports infrastructure investments touching ₹1,800 crores, among them the recently inaugurated ₹132 crore Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Sports Complex, redevelopment of the J.N. Sports Complex and P.A. Sangma Integrated Sports Complex, and the landmark ₹732 crore Mawkhanu Football Stadium, envisioned as India’s first dedicated football stadium built to FIFA and AFC standards with a seating capacity of 40,000.
The conclave featured three thematic sessions. The first, on Transforming India’s Sports Governance, brought together Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and P.R. Sreejesh alongside policymakers and governance experts.
Panellists stressed that sports policies must go beyond elite athletes to build inclusive ecosystems from the grassroots up, with athletes given a stronger voice in policymaking.
Commissioner and Secretary Dr. Vijay Kumar D. highlighted Meghalaya’s community-based approach, built on trust, local participation and partnership as a model being applied to the sports sector, alongside the State’s long-term infrastructure investments ahead of the National Games.
The second session, on Innovation and Digital Transformation in Sports, explored how technology, data analytics and strategic partnerships are reshaping sports ecosystems. The panel, which included World Athletics Vice President Dr. Adille Sumariwalla, Go Sports Foundation Board Member Deepthi Bopaiah, Olympic medallist Abhinav Bindra and Rev Sportz founder Boria Majumdar, both joining virtually, highlighted the role of evidence-based decision-making in athlete development and performance monitoring. Panellists also commended Meghalaya’s significant increase in sports allocations since 2018.
The third session, on Holistic Development for a Sustainable Sporting Future, featured Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed alongside athletes Manu Bhaker, Hima Das, Sheetal Devi, Harvinder Singh and P.R. Sreejesh, who spoke about their personal journeys and the systems that shaped them.
Discussions underscored the need for stronger collaboration between governments, federations and institutions, early talent identification, and societal recognition of sports as a pathway for holistic development.
The Meghalaya Sports Conclave 2026 marks another milestone in the State’s sporting journey. With the 39th National Games less than a year away, the conclave reaffirms Meghalaya’s commitment to building a lasting sporting legacy, one driven by sustained investment, clear vision and the belief that sports can be a transformative force for its youth and communities.
