Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has urged a practical, focused model to accelerate sporting progress across India’s North East, advancing a plan commonly described as ‘One Sport, One State’. The proposal was discussed at the fourth high-level task force meeting on sports promotion in the North Eastern region, held by video conferencing and co-chaired by the Minister and the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
One Sport, One State strategy for targeted growth
Scindia argued that concentrating resources on a single discipline per State would allow for deeper, discipline-specific investment in coaching, facilities and talent pathways. The approach, he said, would support the development of centres of excellence and make scouting and training more efficient across a region with strong sporting potential but uneven infrastructure.
Practical measures discussed
Participants emphasised several practical measures to translate the strategy into results. These included improving coaching standards, establishing a robust talent-identification network, and organising structured competitions from the village level up to State championships. The task force also recommended preparing discipline-specific case studies for each State to shape tailored investment and training plans.
Officials at the meeting included the Mizoram Sports Minister, the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Manipur Chief Secretary and senior officers from North Eastern States, DoNER and State sports departments. The Manipur Governor highlighted that focused training, talent development and local leagues would expand opportunities for young athletes across the region.
Building grassroots systems and local leagues
Delegates stressed the importance of grassroots competitions as a pathway for sustained talent discovery. Regular village and district-level tournaments can expose promising athletes to systematic coaching and competition, creating clearer routes into State and national programmes. The meeting also considered how local leagues could provide competitive match experience while keeping more young people engaged in sport.
Officials flagged the need for stronger linkages between schools, local clubs and State federations so that scouting is continuous and inclusive. Improving access to qualified coaches was seen as central to ensuring that identified talent receives the technical support required to progress.
Next steps and implementation
The task force is expected to follow up with detailed case studies and implementation plans for individual States. These documents will be used to map existing strengths, identify gaps in infrastructure and coaching, and recommend priority investments. Scindia has previously advocated the ‘One Sport Discipline – One State’ approach during earlier task force meetings, signalling continuity in policy direction.
Social media posts from the Manipur Lok Bhavan underlined the collaborative nature of the meeting and reiterated commitments to strengthen sports infrastructure, talent identification mechanisms and grassroots competitions. The proposals aim to provide inclusive opportunities and sustainable pathways for athletic development, allowing the North East to consolidate its reputation as a source of national sporting talent.
Officials now face the task of translating the strategy into actionable plans, timelines and budgets. If implemented effectively, the ‘One Sport, One State’ model could focus limited resources to build centres of excellence, lift coaching standards and broaden participation across India’s North Eastern states.
Key Takeaways:
- DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia proposed the ‘One Sport, One State’ approach to concentrate resources and coaching in each North Eastern state.
- Focus on coaching quality, talent scouting and structured grassroots competitions from village to state level.
- State and central officials agreed on discipline-specific case studies and local leagues to widen opportunities for youth.
- The strategy aims to channel focused investment and sustainable pathways for sporting excellence across the region.
