BY TC News Desk
Agartala, March 20: Chief Minister Prof Dr Manik Saha on Monday said that the state has developed sport infrastructure to develop the talent of the players.
While chairing a review meeting of the Youth Affairs and Sports department in presence of minister in-charge Tinku Roy at Civil Secretariat on Monday, Dr Saha said “There are many talented players in the state. Presently, the state has developed sports infrastructure to develop the talent of the players. All that is required is proper care and advanced training, and that is why there is a need for further development of coaching centres in the state and training of players through skilled coaches.”
He further said that Tripura currently has infrastructural and proper management of gymnastics to badminton, table tennis etc. Their practical aspects need further attention. In this case, the officials of the department should be proactive. Emphasis should be placed on field inspection if necessary. He also stressed on strengthening the “Tripura Sports Act” by amending it.
In the review meeting, Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sports department PK Chakraborty said that the department organizes sports competitions in various categories from block level to district level and state level every year with the aim of advancing the sports field of the state.
He said that in the last five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23, a total of 3 lakh 95 thousand 711 students participated from village level to state level. 15 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 17 bronze medals have been won in the National School Games in the last five years. 7 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals and 7 Bronze Medals have been won in the Khelo India Youth Games. 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals in North East Regional Sports Week.
He said there are 9 thousand 514 students in 206 coaching centres of the state and there are 494 physical instructors in them. Coaching centres provide training to players in 18 different categories.
In this context, the Chief Minister emphasized on the development of coaching centres. He suggested bringing in coaches from outside if necessary and asked to take initiative to make the teachers more efficient.
The secretary also highlighted the state-level swimming competition, state-level Bharatiyam programme, youth conclave organized in Sikkim, North Eastern youth festival, residential training etc. He said that a synthetic football turf has been made at Chandrapur in Udaipur at a cost of Rs 5 crore. Synthetic football turf has been constructed at Umakanta Mini Stadium at a cost of Rs 20 crore. Multipurpose Sports Hall and Badminton Hall constructed at Agartala NSRCC for which the bid is over Rs 8 crore. A swimming pool, 100-bed male hostel has been constructed at Panisagar. He also highlighted several other initiatives including synthetic hockey turf in Badharghat, synthetic athletic tech in Panisagar, installation of flood lights in Umakanta mini stadium, synthetic football trough in Jampuijala which will be completed in the future.
In this regard, the Chief Minister said that initiatives should be taken to improve the open gym. The secretary also discussed in detail about the department’s scouts and guides, skill development programs, NSS activities, sports talent scholarships, sports competition initiatives for physically challenged persons, medical insurance initiatives for sportspersons etc. He also shed light on various work plans of the department in the next five years.
In the review meeting, Youth Affairs and Sports minister Tinku Roy said that in the future, the department should be proactive in how to use the clubs in the state for the betterment of the sports field. He expressed the opinion that teachers should take a more responsible role towards their duties. Efforts should be made to link coaching centres with schools. He also expressed hope that it would be possible for more sports talents to emerge.
