State - April 27, 2026

Mizoram Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar Attends Sports Ministers’ Conference in Srinagar

team maverick April 27, 2026

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Srinagar, April 2026: Lalnghinglova Hmar, Minister for Sports & Youth Services of Mizoram, participated in the ‘Chintan Shivir of Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports of States/UTs’ held over two days at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. During the conference, he also chaired one of the key sessions.

The Sports Ministers’ Conference was organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and was led by Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya along with Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse. The event featured seven thematic sessions, with Hmar chairing the session titled “Khelo Bharat Niti: Strengthening Centre-State Coordination.”

The conference was held in the context of India’s preparations for the 2036 Olympic Games, with a focus on improving the country’s performance and increasing its medal tally. Discussions during the ‘Chintan Shivir’ were centred on strategic planning and coordination required to achieve these goals.

Speaking at the session, Lalnghinglova Hmar acknowledged the positive transformation underway in Indian sports but emphasised the need for a more focused approach. He pointed out that not all sports disciplines can be prioritised equally for Olympic success, and that greater attention should be given to those with higher medal prospects. He stressed that continuing with existing approaches would yield limited results, and that reforms are necessary for meaningful progress.

He also called for strengthening the Sports Authority of India and urged that decision-making should not remain centralised in Delhi. Instead, he advocated for greater engagement with sports officials and associations at the state level to ensure more inclusive and effective policymaking.

Highlighting the importance of grassroots development, Hmar said that improving coaching systems is essential for nurturing talent. He noted that Mizoram had already taken steps in this direction, including organising the Mizoram Sports Conclave in 2024 with a focus on the 2036 Olympics. Under the “Empowering Mizoram Sports” initiative, the state is currently providing coaching to children aged 8 to 15 across Mizoram.

He further mentioned that, in collaboration with the School Education Department, a “Grassroot Sports Development Programme” is being implemented to provide structured coaching to school students. Efforts are also being made to address age-related discrepancies in competitions to ensure fairness.

Emphasising collaboration, Hmar said that cooperation should not only exist between the Centre and states but also among states themselves. Sharing best practices and learning from each other’s experiences, he said, would be key to advancing India’s sports ecosystem. He also highlighted the need to better utilise sports infrastructure available in more developed states to benefit athletes from regions with limited facilities.

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in his address, underlined the critical role of states in driving India’s sports development. He stated that a roadmap has been prepared to transform India into a global sports powerhouse within the next decade, adding that the vision must translate into tangible outcomes at the grassroots level, including in districts and local training centres.

The two-day conference covered a wide range of topics, including medal strategies under the Khelo India Mission, talent identification and development, clean and safe sports, sports governance, sports goods manufacturing, and youth engagement through MY Bharat.

The event saw participation from sports ministers of 15 states, along with officials from the Ministry, the Sports Authority of India, National Sports Federations, and noted athletes such as Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand, Gagan Narang, and Adille Sumariwalla.

Lalnghinglova Hmar was accompanied by senior officials from Mizoram, including representatives from the Mizoram State Sports Council and his office, during the conference.

The sessions at the Chintan Shivir (Sports) 2026 included: