Nagaland honours 151 sportspersons on NSD

National Sports day cum cash award ceremony for meritorious sportspersons was held at hall B, IG stadium Kohima organised by Department of Youth Resources and Sports (DYRS) on August 29. In recognition of their excellence, 151 meritorious sportspersons were awarded.
In his address, special guest S. Keoshu Yimkhiung advised students to recognize and nurture their innate talents. He emphasized that self-awareness and dedicated self-development are the cornerstones of achieving professional excellence and reaching the highest levels of success.
As part of the National Sports Day (NSD)celebrations, he said the government also presented cash awards to athletes who have represented Nagaland and India and that the recognition is not merely financial but a a message that every athlete’s efforts, dreams, and achievements are valued and celebrated.
He particularly highlighted the remarkable achievements of female athletes from Nagaland, noting that they are forging ahead and setting a powerful example in the world of sports. He also encouraged athletes to intensify their efforts and bring pride to the state.
Yimkhiung attributed the greater success of girls in sports to their dedication, genuine interest, and patience—qualities that are propelling Nagaland’s sporting scene forward. In contrast, he suggested that boys sometimes struggle to achieve due to a societal spirit of domination and a tendency to lose interest in their pursuits.
He also congratulated the meritorious sportspersons present for their achievements and for serving as exemplary role models for the young, upcoming generation.
He stated that State government is fully committed under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, to strengthen the sports ecosystem across Nagaland.
Acknowledging the state’s wealth of young talent and energy, he said that the government detailed concrete steps taken to develop sports infrastructure, citing the modern multi-purpose stadiums and futsal courts have been established in most of the state’s 17 districts, and with projects underway in the remaining areas stating initiative reflects a resolve to provide equal opportunities to every young sports enthusiast, irrespective of their geographical location.
Furthermore, he said that the government is drafting a new Sports Policy, guided by the National Sports Policy—Khelo Bharat Niti 2025. This policy aims to reflect athletes’ interests, community aspirations, and align with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. A humble request was also made to the Police Department to consider providing job opportunities to promising young athletes within the state force, he added.
Guest of honour, DIG Rupin Sharma, IPS, provided a realistic assessment of the challenges facing sports in Nagaland. He stated that a true sportsman learns to enjoy the process, making challenges easier to overcome.
However, he highlighted significant structural hurdles like the geographical and economic Isolation: Nagaland’s distance from the mainstream and its limited private sector economy means that sports persons are heavily reliant on government support, which is finite. Lack of private sponsorship where unlike other states, Nagaland sees little private investment in sponsoring players, teams, or events, he said.
On budgetary constraints, he said even within supportive entities like the Nagaland Police, budgets for sports are minimal, and recruitment of new sportsmen has been stalled for years due to policy matters.
Sharma proposed that for sustainable growth, Nagaland must actively engage the private sector through CSR funds, sponsorships, and partnerships. He offered to personally facilitate these connections, stressing that government support alone is insufficient to employ every athlete. He also hoped that as per the new Sports Policy, recruitment will open soon in their department through sports.
He advocated for creating systems that support sportsmen beyond their playing years, into roles as coaches, trainers, and referees, while ensuring all recruitment processes remain fair and transparent.
The ceremony culminated with Director of DYRS, Kethosituo Sekhose, acknowledging the government’s significant efforts to uplift sports. He noted that Nagaland is emerging not only in physical sports but also in E-sports.