Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated a network of indoor cricket academies across six northeastern states, marking a significant push to strengthen sports infrastructure and grassroots development in the region.Launching the facilities from Gangtok, the Prime Minister unveiled state-of-the-art indoor academies in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. The projects, supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), aim to provide uninterrupted training facilities despite the region’s prolonged monsoon season.‘Historic moment’ for Manipur cricketAt the Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium in Imphal, the Manipur Cricket Association’s indoor academy stands out as a flagship facility. Equipped with three practice pitches, a gymnasium, administrative offices and a swimming pool, it is designed to support high-performance training throughout the year.Calling it a “historic moment,” Manipur Cricket Association secretary Lairenjam Geetranjan Singh said the academy would transform the state’s cricketing landscape. “This world-class facility will allow our players to train round the year, especially during the rainy season, without having to travel outside,” he told IANS.He added that the BCCI will bear maintenance and operational costs for the next two years. Highlighting recent success, Singh said, “Manipur reached five domestic finals in 2025 and won two Under-19 titles. All our players are local talents groomed over the years.”Arunachal facility a ‘landmark day’In Arunachal Pradesh, the indoor academy at Doimukh—developed jointly with the Arunachal Cricket Association—was hailed as a “landmark day” by president Nabam Vivek. “It will be a turning point, especially as the monsoon here lasts six to seven months,” he said, while stressing the need for stadiums to host domestic competitions.Senior player Techi Doria echoed the sentiment, highlighting long-standing challenges. “Earlier, training during the rainy season was difficult. Now, such issues will be avoided,” he said, adding that the facility would motivate players to train consistently.Boost to Northeast sports ecosystemAddressing the event, Modi emphasised that such infrastructure would “nurture local talent, provide better training opportunities and strengthen the Northeast’s growing sports ecosystem.”The Prime Minister, currently on an official visit to Gangtok, also launched several development projects earlier in the day, underlining the Centre’s focus on expanding sporting and infrastructure capabilities across the region.
