SHILLONG, MAY 30: Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday inaugurated the Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Hall at the JN Sports Complex here, and presided over the signing of the Host State Agreement for the 39th National Games, Meghalaya 2027.
The ceremony was held in the presence of Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Meghalaya Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla, and Indian Olympic Association President Dr PT Usha.
Senior officials of the IOA, members of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association, and representatives from State Olympic Associations of other Northeastern states also attended.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Wailadmiki Shylla described the day as “a proud moment for the people of Meghalaya and the sporting fraternity of the Northeast.”
Built at a cost of ₹132.9 crore and funded by the New Development Bank under the Meghalaya Ecotourism Infrastructure Development Project, the Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Hall is “one of the finest indoor sports facilities in the country,” completed in about 2.5 years “despite challenging terrain and climatic conditions.”
The Hall is “competition-ready to host Basketball and Kabaddi during the 39th National Games 2027.”
Post-Games, it will house a High-Performance Sports Science Centre offering “biomechanics, performance analytics, sports medicine, physiotherapy, nutrition, and sports psychology.”
The facility is part of a wider infrastructure push that includes the Umsawli Sports Complex, the PA Sangma Sports Complex in Tura, and the upcoming Mawkhanu Football Stadium, set to be “the largest dedicated football stadium in the Northeast.”
At the same event, the Government of Meghalaya and the Indian Olympic Association signed the Host State Agreement for the 39th National Games. The revised agreement “strengthens the partnership between the State and the IOA by clearly defining the legal, financial, and operational responsibilities of each party in greater detail.”
The signing follows the conclusion of the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand in 2025 and the ceremonial handover of the Games flag to Meghalaya. The 2027 edition will coincide with Meghalaya’s 55th Statehood year.
“The Games will be a collective Northeast moment,” with other Northeastern states enjoying “host participation rights for disciplines held within their territories.”
More than 10,000 athletes are expected to compete across three host cities — Shillong, Tura and Jowai — with the event estimated to generate “over 5,400 employment opportunities for the people of the State.”
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya praised the State for “its remarkable efforts and preparedness for hosting the 39th National Games,” noting that Meghalaya “has demonstrated exceptional capability in executing projects in a timely and efficient manner.”
He said the upcoming Mawkhanu Football Stadium would be “a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting national and international matches,” adding that “such infrastructure will significantly boost tourism and create employment in the region.”
He also highlighted Meghalaya’s “strong tradition of organic food, which the State has immense potential to showcase to the rest of the country.”
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma reaffirmed Meghalaya’s commitment to “establishing itself as a leading sporting hub in India.”
He said the development of “world-class infrastructure and the hosting of national and international events will transform the State’s sports ecosystem and create new opportunities for its youth.”
“Hosting the 39th National Games is just the beginning of a long-term vision to build a strong and lasting sports culture in Meghalaya,” Sangma said, urging young athletes “to make the most of the historic opportunity to compete on home soil and bring glory to the State.”
By Our Reporter
