Centre’s DoNER Ministry Drives ‘One Sport, One State’ to Develop Northeast Sports
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has intensified its efforts to strengthen the sports ecosystem in the Northeast by advocating the “One Sport, One State” initiative, aimed at focused and sustainable sports development across the region.
Union Minister for DoNER, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, along with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, on Tuesday jointly chaired the 4th High-Level Task Force (HLTF) Meeting on the Promotion of Sports in the North Eastern Region via video conferencing. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to review progress and chart a clear roadmap for enhancing sporting infrastructure and talent development in the region.
Senior officials who participated in the meeting included the Sports Minister of Mizoram, the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Chief Secretary of Manipur, and senior representatives from DoNER, various Northeastern state governments, and state sports departments. The details of the deliberations were shared in an official communiqué issued by Lok Bhavan, Imphal.
During the discussions, Minister Scindia highlighted the importance of adopting a focused, result-oriented, and practical approach to sports promotion in the Northeast, which is widely known for producing talented athletes in multiple disciplines. He proposed the “One Sport, One State” model, encouraging each state to identify and prioritise specific sports based on local strengths, tradition, and potential, and to direct resources accordingly for maximum impact.
Scindia further stressed the need to strengthen the foundation of sports by investing in quality coaching, effective talent identification mechanisms, and scientific training methods. He underscored the importance of providing athletes with regular competitive exposure through well-structured tournaments and leagues, starting from the village level and progressing to district and state levels. To support evidence-based planning, he also suggested developing detailed, sport-specific case studies for each state to assess gaps, document best practices, and guide future interventions.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla welcomed the initiative and expressed confidence that such a focused strategy would significantly improve opportunities for young athletes across the Northeast. He noted that systematic talent development, specialised training programmes, and strong grassroots and local leagues would help nurture sporting talent and create a robust pipeline of athletes capable of competing at national and international levels.
The meeting marked another important step in the ongoing efforts to promote sports in the Northeast. Earlier, on November 19, 2025, Governor Bhalla and Minister Scindia had co-chaired the 3rd and final meeting of the High-Level Task Force, also held through video conferencing. That meeting concluded with a shared commitment among Centre and state authorities to transform the sports landscape of the Northeast through coordinated planning, data-driven strategies, and close collaboration.
With the renewed push for the “One Sport, One State” initiative, DoNER aims to harness the region’s immense sporting potential, ensure efficient use of resources, and build a strong, inclusive sports ecosystem that empowers youth and brings greater recognition to the Northeast on the national sporting stage.
