State Level Sports Talent Search Program 2024-25 Inaugurated

 

Tripura's Youth Showcase Sporting Spirit Despite Challenges

The State Level Sports Talent Search Program 2024-25 was successfully inaugurated on March 21, 2025, at the Umakanta Academy premises in Agartala despite road strikes organized by a political party. The three-day event, scheduled from March 21 to 23, aims to discover hidden sporting talents across Tripura in various disciplines including Athletics, Football (for 10-year-old boys and girls), Kabaddi, and Kho-Kho (for 14-year-old boys and girls).

The inaugural ceremony was graced by distinguished personalities including the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sri Tinku Roy; Secretary of Sports Council, Sri Sukanta Ghosh; Mayor and MLA, Sri Dipak Majumder; and Padma Shri awardee Dipa Karmakar. The event commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp by these dignitaries, symbolizing the illumination of young sporting careers.

Prior to the main event, a quiz competition was organized where students from all eight districts of Tripura participated enthusiastically. The attendance was remarkable considering the transportation challenges due to the strikes, demonstrating the determination of young athletes to pursue their sporting dreams.

The ceremony featured a vibrant cultural program showcasing Tripura's rich cultural diversity through various traditional dance forms. Performances representing Bengali, Manipuri, Reang, Tripuri, Santhal, and other communities highlighted the state's multicultural heritage and emphasized the unifying power of sports and culture.

In his address, Minister Tinku Roy emphasized the importance of sports in youth development and its potential as a career path. He stressed the government's commitment to nurturing sporting talent in the state and providing necessary infrastructure and training facilities. The minister actively participated in the event by joining the inaugural Kabaddi matches and ceremoniously kicking off the football tournament at the Umakanta Mini Stadium, which was brilliantly illuminated with floodlights.

The event also marked the inauguration of "Umakanta Academy Mukta Mancha," a newly constructed open-air stage within the academy premises, enhancing the institution's capacity to host cultural and sporting events.

This talent search program is particularly significant as it aims to fill seats at the Badarghat and Panisagar Sports Schools, offering selected athletes advanced training opportunities. All participants will receive certificates, while winning teams will be awarded prestigious trophies by the dignitaries. Selected athletes will benefit from free advanced training, and those admitted to Sports Schools will receive comprehensive support including accommodation and meals at the hostels.

The program represents the Tripura government's ongoing efforts to promote sports at the grassroots level through the Tripura School Sports Board under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. By discovering and nurturing young talent, the initiative seeks to enhance the state's sporting achievements while providing students with alternative pathways to success beyond academics.

As the three-day event progresses, it is expected to witness fierce competitions and showcase promising talents who may represent Tripura and potentially India in future sporting events.