Agartala, 31st August 2026 : A total of 112 female athletes from Tripura have received one-time financial assistance under the Chief Minister’s State Talent Search Program during the last three financial years, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy informed the State Assembly on Monday.
Responding to a question from MLA Swapna Das Paul, Roy said that 52 female athletes were provided assistance in 2023-24, 14 in 2024-25 and another 46 in 2025-26. The scheme extends financial support to sportspersons from the state who have secured awards at national and international competitions.
The Minister also highlighted the Asmita City League, organised under the Centre’s Khelo India initiative to encourage greater participation of women in sports. According to him, 450 female athletes participated in the league during 2024-25, while participation increased substantially to 1,760 in 2025-26.
Replying to separate questions from MLAs Mailayu Mog and Ranjit Debbarma, Roy said 45 dedicated coaching centres have been established to identify and train promising athletes, particularly from rural areas. Thirteen Khelo India centres are also currently operational across the state. Sports equipment is being provided through these facilities, while talented rural athletes are offered advanced training at the Tripura Sports Schools in Badharghat and Panisagar.
The department has also been organising sporting events for schoolchildren in Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 categories since 2022-23, along with annual talent-search programmes. The government plans to establish an open gym in every Panchayat. At present, 96 open gyms are operational, with 20 more proposed for 2026-27.
In another reply, Roy said nine synthetic football fields have been constructed across the state at a total cost of Rs 46.57 crore. Four are in West Tripura, two in Gomati and one each in Sepahijala, South Tripura and Khowai. Construction is underway at Gandatwisa in Dhalai, while work on another field at Kakraban in Gomati is expected to begin soon.
