Assam opens high-performance sports centre in Kokrajhar to nurture regional talent

Assam’s sports infrastructure received a major boost with the opening of a High Performance Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Kokrajhar, the third such facility in the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the centre on JD Road, highlighting its potential to transform athlete development in the region.

 

The centre has been developed at a cost of Rs 28 crore, funded through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and Oil India Limited. Equipped with advanced training and rehabilitation technology, the facility is designed to support elite and emerging athletes with professional-grade physical conditioning, injury management, and recovery services.

 

Several key figures attended the launch, including Bodoland Territorial Council Chief Pramod Boro, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Nandita Gorlosa, Minister UG Brahma, and Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, who has been a strong advocate for sports science in India.

 

The new centre is expected to serve athletes across Bodoland and lower Assam, offering them access to structured training environments previously limited to metro cities. According to the Chief Minister, this initiative is part of a broader effort to identify and nurture local talent capable of competing at national and international levels.

 

Officials from both sponsoring companies—Saloma Yomdo, Director and Chairman of Oil India Ltd, and Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan, MD of NRL—were also present at the inauguration. Their involvement underscores the growing role of public-private collaboration in enhancing India’s sports ecosystem.

 

The facility is a strategic addition to Assam’s expanding network of sports infrastructure, aiming to elevate the standard of athlete support and promote sustained youth participation in competitive sports.