Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia met Mirabai Chanu after her historic third Commonwealth Games gold, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to sports development in Northeast India.
New Delhi, August 3: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Monday met Commonwealth Games champion Mirabai Chanu in New Delhi following her historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to building a stronger sports ecosystem in the Northeast.
The meeting came days after the Manipur weightlifting star created history at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games by becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win three successive Commonwealth gold medals.
Congratulating Chanu on her achievement, Scindia praised her dedication, discipline and perseverance, describing her success as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the country, particularly in the Northeastern states.
During the interaction, Chanu reflected on her journey to the top of international weightlifting and spoke about the challenges she overcame throughout her career. The discussion also covered several aspects of elite sports, including training methods, nutrition, recovery management and the role of proper rest and sleep in maintaining peak athletic performance.
Scindia also acknowledged the contribution of Chanu's support team, including her coach, trainer and physiotherapist, noting that sustained international success depends on scientific training and a strong support system.
The Union Minister highlighted the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region's efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure and athlete development through the High Level Task Force (HLTF). Under the initiative, the Ministry is implementing the 'One State, One Sport' strategy, which seeks to help each Northeastern state develop excellence in sports where it holds a natural competitive advantage, including weightlifting, archery and football.
According to the Minister, the initiative extends beyond the construction of sports infrastructure and focuses on creating a comprehensive ecosystem that includes quality coaching, sports science, nutrition, recovery facilities and athlete support services. He said providing world-class training opportunities within the region would encourage more young athletes to pursue competitive sports without having to relocate elsewhere.
Scindia said the Northeast has the potential to produce many more champions like Mirabai Chanu through sustained investment in coaching excellence and scientific athlete development, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the region.
Chanu's trainer, Vijay Sharma, also emphasised the sporting potential of athletes from the Northeast and expressed confidence that the Centre's initiatives would help identify and nurture talent at the grassroots level.
The meeting reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening the sporting ecosystem in the Northeast by investing in athlete development, coaching excellence and modern sports support systems, while unlocking the region's vast sporting potential.
