Shillong, May 14: Announcing a ₹23.37-crore boost for athlete preparedness ahead of the 39th National Games in 2027, the Meghalaya government on Wednesday rolled out fresh financial and policy support during an interaction with athletes, coaches and State Sports Associations.

The funds, to be released under the Team Preparation Programme, will cover “athlete accommodation, diet and nutrition, and competition exposure,” Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said.

“The National Games is a big opportunity for everyone and in order to have a successful National Games, all of us have to work together as a team,” Shylla told the gathering, framing the financial push as part of a larger state effort to make athletes the centre of its Games roadmap.

“Whatever decision we take, whatever policies we bring, it is very important to keep the youth in mind,” he added, recalling an athlete’s message that flagged “the need for better nutrition support and accessible grievance redressal mechanisms.”

Highlighting the state’s rising investment in sports, the Minister said the Sports Department’s annual budget has grown from nearly ₹40 crore seven years ago to ₹844 crore this year.

He also lauded Meghalaya’s jump from 29th to 13th at the recent Khelo India Tribal Games, saying the result “reflects the hard work of athletes, coaches, sports associations and sustained government investment in sports development.”

To incentivize performance, the state has introduced the Meghalaya Outstanding Sportspersons Direct Appointment Policy, ensuring government jobs for National Games medalists.

“Behind every successful athlete, there is a coach,” Shylla said, assuring support for coaches.

He added that athletes training for the National Games would get relaxation in attendance, with the proposal to be taken up with the Education Department for “necessary exemptions.”

Speaking to reporters later, Shylla said, “We have called all the state associations along with representatives of the athletes because they are the main pillars for the successful conduct of the National Games.”

“While it is a historic moment for Meghalaya to host the National Games, we also want to see our athletes perform well. That is why it is important to hear directly from them about their expectations, challenges, and grievances. This meeting was held to give them an opportunity to interact,” he said.

“I am glad that many of them raised several issues, and the department will be happy to look into them,” he added.

On key concerns flagged by athletes, Shylla said, “The main issue raised was regarding diet. Athletes need to consume a lot to stay fit, so nutrition plays a very important role.”

“In addition, they are concerned about how training is affecting their studies, since they often have to skip classes. They have requested special consideration from schools, and we discussed that as well,” he said.

“I informed them that under Phase-II, we have already included diet support. We will be providing funds to state associations to ensure nutritional diets for athletes. We have also allocated funds for accommodation, as many athletes are based across the state and face logistical difficulties,” Shylla explained.

“We also realize they need exposure outside the state to assess their performance. That is why we have added a component for external exposure. These were the main issues discussed today,” he added.

Richard Yanthan, Joint Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya, said the National Games would provide a significant platform for athletes to showcase their talent at the national level. “For Meghalaya, the national games is an opportunity to accelerate the infrastructure development in the state, which is gaining pace day by day,” he said.

John F. Kharshiing, Working President of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association, assured the government that the sporting fraternity remains fully committed to working collectively for the success of the National Games and the long-term growth of sports in Meghalaya.

Notably, under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Meghalaya has significantly expanded its sporting ecosystem in recent years. Since June 2025, more than 50,000 athletes have been scouted across the state, while over 1,200 athletes are currently training under 27 State Sports Associations.

Meghalaya athletes have already secured 70 medals at national and international competitions, including 23 gold medals. Alongside this, the state is establishing a High Performance Sports Science Centre at the J.N. Sports Complex to provide advanced sports science support, injury management, recovery systems and performance analytics.

With over ₹1,800 crore invested in sports infrastructure since 2018, Meghalaya is positioning the 39th National Games as a transformational moment for sports, youth development and economic growth in the Northeast.

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