Shillong, May 28: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, today visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Centre in Shillong where she interacted with athletes, coaches and officials and reviewed the sports infrastructure and training ecosystem at the centre.
During the visit, Khadse toured various facilities and reviewed the ongoing training activities being undertaken for athletes across disciplines. She also interacted extensively with coaches and young sportspersons, encouraging them to continue pursuing excellence with discipline, determination and commitment.
The minister actively participated in various sporting activities during the visit, including trying her hand at Indian round archery and playing football with athletes at the centre.
“The North East has immense sporting talent and a strong culture of sports participation. It is important that we continue strengthening infrastructure, coaching support and athlete development pathways so that more young athletes from the region can excel at national and international levels,” she said.
Highlighting the unique advantages of the SAI NEHU Shillong centre, Khadse noted that the institution holds significant potential to emerge as an important high-altitude training destination for elite athletes.
This is not a new idea and has been suggested by different sports administrators over the years, though nothing seems to have come of it.
“This centre has tremendous potential for training elite athletes because of its natural beauty, peaceful environment and pleasant weather conditions. With continued development and support, SAI NEHU Shillong can become an important high-altitude training centre for athletes preparing for national and international competitions,” Khadse said.
Present during the visit were Rajnish Mishra, Assistant Director of SAI; John Kharshing, Working President of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association; and other officials, coaches and support staff.
