Sansad Khel Utsav 2025: CM Kicks Off Mega Sports Event in Agartala
Agartala Dec 25: In a major push for youth development and rural talent scouting, Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha officially inaugurated the Sansad Khel Utsav 2025 today at the Dasharath Deb Sports Complex in Badharghat.
The one-day event, funded by the West Tripura Member of Parliament’s fund, is a collaborative effort between the West Tripura district administration and the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. The festival aims to bridge the gap between rural athletes and national platforms.
PM Modi Addresses Athletes Virtually
A key highlight of the event was a virtual interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed sportspersons of various states from New Delhi. Before the formal inauguration, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries listened to the PM’s speech, which emphasized the role of sports in nation-building.
The ceremony also included floral tributes to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, honoring his legacy on his birth anniversary.
Strengthening the Sporting Spirit: Key Highlights
The sports meet featured a wide array of disciplines designed to engage both male and female athletes:
Exhibition Competitions: Athletics, Volleyball, Hockey, and Tug of War (Boys & Girls).
Targeted Categories: Football and Kabaddi competitions were held exclusively for the boys’ category.
Traditional Focus: The CM expressed a specific goal to revive traditional sports that are fading from the modern generation’s memory.
“Sports play a vital role in ensuring both physical and mental well-being. Regular involvement helps cultivate positive thinking and reduces stress,” said Dr Manik Saha, urging parents to balance academics with athletics.
Infrastructure Boom in Tripura Sports
During his welcome address, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy highlighted the state’s rapid progress in sports infrastructure. The government is aggressively modernizing facilities to help local talent compete at national levels.
Recent Infrastructure Achievements:
8 New Synthetic Turf Grounds completed across the state.
40 New Grass Fields developed for local practice.
Ongoing projects to upgrade rural stadiums into high-performance centers.
A Star-Studded Gathering
The event saw participation from high-profile leaders and sporting icons, reflecting the state’s unified commitment to the “Khelo India” vision:
Biplab Kumar Deb (MP): Emphasized that sports instill discipline and social responsibility.
Dipa Karmakar (Padma Shri): The legendary gymnast’s presence served as an inspiration to the participating youth.
Dipak Majumder: Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA.
Dr. Vishal Kumar: West Tripura District Magistrate.
The festival concluded with the Chief Minister hoisting the Sansad Khel Mahotsav flag and symbolically kicking off a football match to signal the start of the competitions.