Assam's Chief Minister Unveils Plans for Athlete Hostels to Boost Sports
Infrastructure Development for Athletes in Assam
Guwahati, June 5: In a bid to establish sports as a hallmark of Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday the development of residential hostels designed to house over 2,000 athletes as part of a significant infrastructure initiative.
During the inauguration of the Lovlina Boxing Academy in North Guwahati, Sarma emphasized the necessity of providing living accommodations for emerging athletes.
“It is impractical for athletes to commute 50 kilometers daily for training. Therefore, we have committed to constructing hostel facilities for at least 2,000 athletes within the next five years,” he stated.
The government is focusing on both identifying talent and enhancing infrastructure, he added.
A 200-bed hostel is currently being built in Amingaon, while plans for a larger 500-bed facility are underway for Sarusajai. Additional hostels are also proposed for Dibrugarh and Chandrapur.
“These hostels will provide all necessary support—from meals to lodging—allowing athletes to concentrate solely on their training,” Sarma remarked, noting the ambition to position sports as Assam’s "soft power" on a national level.
This announcement coincides with Assam's aspirations to host the 2027 National Games. Sarma previously affirmed the state's preparedness to hold significant sporting events, highlighting Assam's growing expertise and available infrastructure.
The 2027 National Games will be a collaborative effort among all eight North-eastern states, with each state set to manage at least one sport.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously supported this cooperative strategy during the closing ceremony of the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, describing it as a “unifying step” for the region.
Encouraging parents to back their children's athletic ambitions, Sarma stated, “If we take sports seriously as a profession, Assam has the potential to produce athletes who can surpass those from Manipur.”
At the event, the Chief Minister also expressed his commitment to the Lovlina Boxing Academy, announcing a funding allocation of ₹2 crore and promising further financial and infrastructural assistance, including hostel facilities, to develop the center into a premier training hub.