Inauguration of Naharkatia Multi Sports Complex Enhances Assam's Sports Infrastructure
New Sports Complex Unveiled in Naharkatia
On October 13, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma officially opened the Naharkatia Multi Sports Complex, a significant enhancement to the region's sports facilities.
This complex is the first of its kind in the Naharkatia Legislative Assembly area, designed to foster sporting activities and provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for training, competitions, and leisure.
The facility encompasses a variety of sports, including football, athletics, and swimming, all within a unified campus. It features a football pitch, an earthen running track, a swimming pool measuring 25 by 15 meters, a covered spectator gallery, and an administrative building.
The football field is equipped with an underground drainage and sprinkler system to ensure optimal maintenance.
Additional amenities include a gym, dressing rooms with attached bathrooms, a medical room, a canteen, and administrative offices.
The swimming pool area boasts spectator seating, separate changing rooms for boys and girls, and a water filtration system. It also includes a VIP lounge and a conference room to facilitate various functions.
Alongside this multi-purpose complex, the Assam Cricket Association has also established an international-standard cricket stadium in Naharkatia.
This stadium features a pavilion with dressing rooms for players, a referee's room, office spaces, a dining area, dormitory accommodations, and both indoor and outdoor practice facilities, along with a spectator gallery that can seat 150 people. These developments are expected to significantly enhance opportunities for sports training and activities in the area.
During the inauguration, Chief Minister Sarma highlighted Naharkatia's natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and its proud sporting history.
He paid tribute to the late Toshen Bora, a notable footballer from Assam who represented India at the 1970 Asian Games and participated in the 1972 Pre-Olympic Football Tournament in Rangoon.
Sarma noted Bora's historic achievement as the first individual from the Northeast to serve as a selector for the Indian national football team, emphasizing that talent can emerge from any region.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged other talented athletes from Naharkatia, including Bonti Gogoi from the Indian women's national football team, and several Under-19 players. He remembered the contributions of hockey players like Jayanta Sonowal and Hiren Gogoi, as well as international athlete Pamila Devi.
He praised Naharkatia's girls' hockey team for their multiple championship wins at various levels.
From 2010 to 2025, over 100 girls from Naharkatia have represented Assam at the national level, with the team winning the state championship ten times.
Sarma noted Naharkatia's impressive performance in Khel Maharan, where they excelled in kabaddi, football, and volleyball, earning recognition as the Best Legislative Assembly Constituency.
In the second edition of Khel Maharan, athletes from Naharkatia continued to shine, winning medals in road cycling, chess, and athletics. The Chief Minister announced that the third edition would begin in November and encouraged local youth to participate.
Discussing the government's vision for Naharkatia as a comprehensive sports hub, Sarma mentioned the cricket ground built by the Assam Cricket Association, which has bolstered local sports infrastructure and opened new training and competition avenues for cricketers.
He also revealed plans for a full-fledged hockey stadium nearby.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to MLA Taranga Gogoi for his leadership in bringing these sports facilities to Naharkatia.
Sarma reiterated the government's commitment to developing modern sports infrastructure throughout Assam, ensuring that young athletes, including those from remote areas, have access to quality facilities and opportunities to pursue their sporting dreams.
He emphasized that investing in sports infrastructure is crucial for discovering and nurturing grassroots talent, promoting participation in sports, and creating pathways for youth to compete at various levels.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the Naharkatia Multi Sports Complex would become a platform for aspiring athletes to develop their skills, realize their potential, and bring honor to Assam.
He concluded by stating that the inauguration symbolizes the government's ongoing efforts to enhance sports infrastructure across Assam and cultivate a supportive environment for youth development and participation in sports.