New Delhi: Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated a network of indoor cricket academies across six northeastern states, marking a major step towards strengthening 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. Projects supported by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to provide uninterrupted training facilities despite the region’s long monsoon season.‘Historic moment’ for Manipur cricketAt the Luang Pokpa Cricket Stadium in Imphal, the Manipur Cricket Association’s Indoor Academy stands out as a key 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.Terming it a “historic moment”, Manipur Cricket Association secretary Laranjam Geetranjan Singh said the academy would change the state’s cricket landscape. “This world-class facility will allow our players to train throughout the year, especially during the rainy season, without having to travel outside,” he told IANS.He added that the BCCI would bear the maintenance and operational expenses for the next two years. Highlighting the recent success, Singh said, “Manipur has reached five domestic finals in 2025 and won two Under-19 titles. All our players are local talent who have been groomed over the years.”Arunachal Facility A ‘Historic Day’In Arunachal Pradesh, the indoor academy at Doymukh—developed jointly with the Arunachal Cricket Association—was hailed as a “historic day” by President Nabam Vivek. “It will be a turning point, especially since the monsoon here lasts for six to seven months,” he said, stressing the need for stadiums to host domestic matches.Senior player Techi Doria echoed the sentiment, highlighting long-standing challenges. “Earlier, it was difficult to train in the rainy season. Now, such problems will be avoided,” he said, adding that the facility would encourage players to train continuously.Promote Northeast Sports EcosystemAddressing the event, Modi emphasized that such infrastructure would “grow local talent, provide better training opportunities and strengthen the growing sports ecosystem of the Northeast.”The prime minister, who is currently on an official visit to Gangtok, also launched several development projects earlier in the day, highlighting the Centre’s focus on building sports and infrastructure capacity across the region.
