In a vibrant celebration of athletic excellence, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the 4th edition of the Arunachal State Games 2025 at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Itanagar on Friday evening. The grand opening ceremony drew athletes, dignitaries, and sports enthusiasts from across the state, setting the tone for a week of high-octane competition and renewed hope for sporting excellence.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Khandu hailed the progress made by the state in the field of sports and reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to supporting athletes at every stage. “Arunachal Pradesh is emerging as a major sports hub in the Northeast. Our recent achievements, including 13 medals at the 38th National Games, are a clear sign of the potential our youth hold,” Khandu stated.
He further underlined an ambitious goal for the upcoming 39th National Games, to be held in Meghalaya. “Our next target is to place Arunachal among the top 10 performing states at the national level. This will require focused investment, intensive training, and a strong sports ecosystem, all of which we are actively working on,” the Chief Minister added.
As part of this broader vision, Khandu spoke about the ‘Mission Olympics’ initiative, which is designed to provide top-tier training to promising athletes. He assured that if required, the state would not hesitate to send its athletes abroad for exposure and world-class coaching. “We want our athletes to dream big. If they need to train overseas to achieve their goals, we will make it happen,” he affirmed.
The CM also highlighted the state’s significant investments in sports infrastructure, with new stadiums coming up in Lower Dibang Valley, Lower Siang, Pakke Kessang, and Longding districts. He credited the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia as a symbol of this transformation. “These facilities are not just buildings—they are launchpads for dreams,” he said.
Recalling past milestones, Khandu proudly mentioned that Arunachal had successfully hosted the final of the 77th Santosh Trophy at the same stadium—an achievement once considered out of reach for the state. He added that Arunachal will host the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-19 Championship in May 2025. “Just a few years ago, this would have been unimaginable,” he remarked.
In a major announcement, Khandu revealed that a new world-class stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000 will soon be built in the state capital. “The location has already been selected, and we will begin construction shortly. This stadium will reflect the future of sports in Arunachal,” he said, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
Adding a special sparkle to the ceremony, Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain graced the occasion, inspiring young athletes with her presence and words of encouragement.
