Tripura hosts first state games, CM Manik Saha bets big on sporting talent

The Tripura Olympic Association (TOA) is hosting its first-ever State Games, with Chief Minister Manik Saha asserting that the northeastern state is poised to emerge as a strong sporting hub.

Addressing the gathering at the inaugural event, Saha underscored the importance of sports in nation-building and public health. Referring to the Centre’s push for fitness through the Fit India Movement, he said a healthy population is key to a healthy and efficiently functioning state.

“Sports are important for us. If we remain healthy, the state will also remain healthy and function well,” the Chief Minister said, aligning Tripura’s sporting ambitions with the national fitness vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Highlighting the depth of talent in the state, Saha said Tripura has never faced a shortage of promising athletes. However, he noted that in the past, several sportspersons from the state had to compete under the banner of other states due to the absence of a structured institutional framework.

“Earlier, Tripura athletes were sent abroad in the name of other states. But now, with the formation of the Tripura Olympic Association, they have a new path,” he said, describing the TOA as a turning point for nurturing and showcasing local talent under the state’s own identity.

The Chief Minister also stressed the government’s financial commitment to sports development. He said athletes are being extended benefits under various state government schemes to ensure they receive the support necessary to train and compete at higher levels.

Expressing optimism about the future, Saha said the initiative would pave the way for many sportspersons from Tripura to rise on bigger stages. “In the future, many athletes will emerge from Tripura and do good work,” he said, projecting the State Games as the beginning of a new sporting chapter for the northeastern state.