With the infrastructure at the JN Sports Complex, Polo, getting a makeover as Meghalaya makes preparations to host the 39th National Games, other venues have stepped in to ensure that the 4th edition of the Meghalaya Games 2022 will be a success.
While the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, will be the site of the opening ceremony on May 3, all the actual sporting events will take place elsewhere.
Entry is free for spectators, though there will be some understandable restrictions at the Assam Regimental Centre, which will host the shooting events.
The scenic Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre at NEHU will be the busiest venue, with seven disciplines – archery, athletics, men’s football, gymnastics, weightlifting, karate and table tennis – taking place there.
The SAI Centre has a new artificial football ground and synthetic athletics track, which were inaugurated by Union cabinet minister (at the time in charge of Youth Affairs and Sports) Kiren Rijiju in January 2021. It also has a dedicated ground for archery. The other four sports will be held at the indoor stadium on site, which recently successfully hosted the 83rd Senior National Table Tennis Championship.
Next door, badminton will take place at the NEHU Indoor Hall. Slightly farther, NEIGRIHMS will be host to the basketball events, the Mawlai Mawroh Indoor Hall will feature boxing, while Mawlai Madan Heh will be the site for women’s football up to the semifinals, with the title match to be held at SAI.
Golf, meanwhile, will be held at the iconic Shillong Golf Course. Golf is one of five disciplines that have been added to this edition of the Games, the others being football, gymnastics, weightlifting and cycling.
Cycling – both cross country and downhill races – will take place at Malki, while Shillong Club returns as the host of tennis as well as billiards and snooker.
The Laban SC Indoor Stadium will feature two martial art forms in judo and taekwondo, while wushu will be witnessed at the Madanrting Indoor Hall.
As mentioned, shooting will again be held at the Assam Regimental Centre and swimming will go on at Crinoline Swimming Pool. The closing ceremony, after several action-packed days, will bring the mega event to a fitting end at SAI.
