Sarbananda Sonowal, Kiren Rijiju inaugurate new sports complex in Assam’s Lakhimpur

The sports complex includes a training centre, multipurpose indoor stadium, hostel for players and coaches apart from other sports-related facilities. The Chief Minister also released a guidebook on bodybuilding written in the Assamese language on the occasion.          

Assam Chief Minister Sonowal while speaking at the inaugural function said that the new sports complex would immensely benefit the sporting community of the upper Assam region providing advanced facilities for grooming their latent talents.

He also urged the younger generation to take up sports as a career and accordingly put dedicated efforts to be successful in the field of sports.

Stating that the Assam government formulated a new sports policy with a view to promoting sports as a career, the Assam Chief Minister said that under the scheme provisions have been made to reward players who attain success in prestigious international sports events financially apart from providing employment in class-I posts in the state government.

He informed that under this policy the Assam government rewarded sprinter Hima Das who won several awards at international athletic meets to the tune of Rs. 1.60 crore and initiated steps for giving her appointment in the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The Assam Chief Minister viewed that steps of this kind would inspire the younger generation to take up sports with more commitment and dedication.

Sonowal at the same time also said that the newly inaugurated sports complex would immensely help the sports persons of Lakhimpur to make meaningful contribution in realizing the goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India as one of the top ten countries in the 2028 Olympics to be held at Los Angeles in the United States.

Union Minister of State (i/c) for Sport & Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju in his speech said that sports is a lifestyle and an important part of a healthy life. He said that the new sports complex would help in emerging Lakhimpur as the epicenter of sports in the upper Assam region.
He also assured to continue extending all support in boosting sports infrastructure in the state and said that few additional sports facilities would soon be added in the new sports complex at Lakhimpur.

Underlining the fact that the sports persons of the NE region would have to play a very vital role in making India as one of the top ten countries in the 2028 Olympics, the Union Minister said that preparations have already been started in this regard. The Union Minister also lauded the sporting talents of upper Assam region and said that the new sports complex would help in realizing the Olympic goal set by the PM.