Guwahati's Playground Shortage: A Growing Concern for Athletes
Guwahati's Sports Infrastructure Crisis
Guwahati, Jan 6: The persistent lack of playgrounds in Guwahati has emerged as a significant issue for the local sports community. Athletes, coaches, and event organizers are expressing concerns that the scarcity of training facilities is hindering practice, talent cultivation, and grassroots involvement.
The problem has intensified following the renovation of Nehru Stadium, a vital training center for various sports.
As activities have been relocated from the stadium, the few remaining grounds in the city are under increased pressure, revealing serious deficiencies in Guwahati's sports infrastructure.
While the city does offer a limited number of playgrounds, many are either poorly equipped or cannot support multiple sports at once.
Moreover, the frequent hosting of tournaments further limits access, leaving minimal opportunities for regular training sessions.
Consequently, numerous teams and academies that previously utilized Nehru Stadium have moved to Latasil Playground and a few other locations, which are already overwhelmed by conflicting schedules.
Cricket coach Abhijit Sinha Roy, who trains athletes at Latasil, noted that the current situation has made consistent training increasingly challenging.
“Previously, we trained at Nehru Stadium, but now that it’s under renovation, we are at Latasil. With tournaments also taking place at various grounds, we have to make do with whatever space we can find. This creates difficulties for both coaches and players,” he explained.
Roy also pointed out that distance is a significant barrier, especially for school children.
“While there are stadiums, many are quite far from each other. Grounds like Latasil and Judges Field are relatively nearby, but matches often occur at both locations at the same time. Guwahati requires a well-equipped playground within the city, and this issue needs urgent attention from the authorities,” he added.
Another cricket coach, Jintu Das, highlighted the lack of a dedicated cricket ground in the city, describing it as a major obstacle to the sport's development.
“Guwahati lacks a proper cricket ground, which is causing significant issues. Training sessions have become very restricted. Ideally, there should be separate facilities for different sports,” he urged, calling on the Assam Cricket Association to take action.
Players shared similar sentiments. Regular trainee Pulak Chaudhury mentioned that the overlap between tournaments and practice schedules forces athletes to constantly search for available space.
“Guwahati needs a proper playground. While tournaments are ongoing, practice must also continue, but there simply isn’t enough space. Often, we have to travel long distances just to play,” he stated.
Another trainee expressed the confusion stemming from Nehru Stadium’s closure. “Since we can’t practice there, we’re unsure where to go. We are currently training at Latasil, but there are challenges here as well. Both boys and girls are facing issues, and many grounds are too far away. Even the existing stadiums are insufficient,” he remarked.
Coaches and players emphasized that as the largest city in Assam and a key sporting center in the Northeast, Guwahati urgently requires more accessible, sport-specific playgrounds within the urban area.
They warned that without prompt action, the lack of infrastructure could hinder the development of young talent and weaken the city’s sports ecosystem.
By Dristirupa Bordoloi