Agartala, Sep 04: Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Thursday inaugurated the Yonex Sunrise North East Zone Inter-State Zonal Badminton Championship at the indoor stadium of Netaji Subhash Regional Coaching Centre (NSRCC) in Agartala.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Chief Minister emphasized that sports play a vital role in both physical and mental development and contribute significantly to building a healthy society. He urged the younger generation to participate more actively in sports, not only for recreation but also for overall well-being.
The four-day championship, which will conclude on September 7, has drawn 216 players from eight North Eastern states in both junior and senior categories.
Highlighting the importance of such tournaments, Dr. Saha said they provide a platform for budding talents of the region to showcase and develop their skills. He stressed that the North East is rich in sporting talent, and the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been prioritizing the development of sports infrastructure alongside socio-economic growth in the region.
The Chief Minister further mentioned that Tripura has witnessed significant improvements in sports infrastructure. These include the construction of eight synthetic turf football grounds, a modern swimming pool, the installation of synthetic turf and floodlights at Umakanta Stadium, 50 open-air gyms across the state, and a 200-bed sports hostel at Badharghat Sports Complex. He also encouraged participating athletes to explore the state’s tourist attractions during their visit.
Earlier, Dr. Pradip Kumar Chakraborty, Secretary of the Youth Affairs and Sports Department, noted Tripura’s growing reputation in badminton at the national level and expressed hope that local players would continue to bring laurels to the state. Tripura Sports Council Secretary Sukanta Ghosh also addressed the gathering.
Among the dignitaries present were Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumdar, AMC Corporator Ratna Dutta, Director of Youth Affairs and Sports L. Darlong, Padma Shri awardee gymnast Dipa Karmakar, Tripura Badminton Association Secretary Rupak Kumar Saha, Working President Ratan Saha, and Manipur Badminton Association President and MLA Biswajit Singh. The inauguration was followed by a colorful cultural programme.
