Shillong, June 16: Meghalaya has committed nearly Rs. 1,800 crore towards sports infrastructure and athlete development as the state prepares to host the 39th National Games in 2027, as well as create a ‘future-ready sporting ecosystem’.
This was highlighted at the Meghalaya Sports Conclave 2026, which concluded on Tuesday. The two-day conclave, organised by the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, highlighted the state’s expanding investments in sports infrastructure, governance reforms and talent development programmes aimed at building a long-term sporting ecosystem.
Commissioner & 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.
Among the marquee projects is the Rs. 732 crore Mawkhanu Football Stadium, envisioned as India’s first dedicated football stadium built to FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) standards. The stadium will have a seating capacity of 40,000.
The state has also inaugurated the Rs. 132 crore Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Sports Complex and undertaken the redevelopment of the J.N. Sports Complex and the P.A. Sangma Integrated Sports Complex.
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 & 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 RevSportz 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.
With less than a year remaining before the National Games, Meghalaya is positioning sports as a key driver of youth development and economic growth, banking on unprecedented investments to create a lasting legacy beyond the multi-sport event.
