Shillong, June 16: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday said Meghalaya’s growing investment in sports is aimed at creating opportunities and shaping the character of young people, rather than focusing solely on winning medals.
Addressing the Meghalaya Sports Conclave 2026, Sangma said the government’s sports push forms part of a broader 15-year vision to build institutional systems that can support the state’s youthful population.
Reflecting on the government’s journey since taking office in 2018, the Chief Minister said the administration inherited several challenges but chose to view them as opportunities for long-term transformation.
“The youth of our state are at the centre and the heart of what we want to achieve, and that’s how our journey for sports began,” Sangma said.
While acknowledging that sporting success and medals remain important goals, he stressed that the larger objective is to make sports an integral part of everyday life.
“We all want medals and wish to see our athletes succeed, but the bigger purpose is to make sports a way of life and ensure that sports help shape the future and overall character of every single youth in our state,” he said.
Sangma said government decisions on sports investment should not be judged solely on medal tallies, arguing that sports can play a wider role in promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership and healthy lifestyles.
The Chief Minister linked the state’s sports agenda with broader initiatives in music, arts, entrepreneurship and the creative economy.
Under the CM’s Meghalaya Grassroots programmes, around 7,000 artists are receiving government support to perform at tourist locations, restaurants and public spaces.
Similar support is being extended to fashion, music production, documentaries and other creative sectors, while initiatives such as CM Elevate and PRIME are helping young entrepreneurs identify market opportunities and build businesses.
Sangma acknowledged that education remains a challenge but said the government is taking steps to improve outcomes through long-term reforms.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s demographic profile, he said nearly half of the state’s population is below the age of 20, making investments in youth development critical.
“We have a very young population, and it is important for us to create the institutional systems now to support future generations,” he said.
On Meghalaya’s preparations to host the 39th National Games in 2027, Sangma described the opportunity as a milestone in the state’s sporting journey. “For a state like Meghalaya to even dream of hosting the National Games is an achievement in itself,” he said, adding that the event should be viewed as part of a larger strategy to transform the sports ecosystem.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that Meghalaya’s limited success in national competitions in the past was due to inadequate planning and investment. “We are seeing change today. We are seeing this transformation and transition happening as we speak. We are still far from where we want to be, but we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
Sangma also invited constructive feedback from stakeholders to strengthen the state’s sports policies and programmes.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla also addressed the conclave, which was attended by Olympians, sports industry experts, senior bureaucrats and policymakers from across the country.
