Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday envisioned a future where every village and town in Sikkim produces sports champions, underlining the state’s growing role in India’s journey to becoming a global sports superpower.
Speaking via videoconference from Bagdogra, West Bengal, at the “Sikkim@50: Where Progress Meets Purpose and Nature Nurtures Growth” event, PM Modi congratulated the people of Sikkim on the 50th anniversary of its statehood. He emphasized the transformative power of sports and the youth’s potential, especially in the Northeast.
“Our goal is for a champion to emerge from every village and town in Sikkim,” PM Modi said. “The new sports complex in Gangtok will become the birthplace of champions—driven by the will to win and the energy of youth.”
He credited Sikkim with contributing several iconic athletes to the country, including football legend Bhaichung Bhutia, Olympian Tarundeep Rai, and mountaineer Jaslal Pradhan. He said such achievements are proof of the Northeast’s growing influence in Indian sports.
“India will soon become a sports superpower, and the youth of Sikkim and the Northeast will play a huge role in achieving this dream. Sikkim has been given special priority under the Khelo India initiative, and I have full faith that the passion of Sikkim’s youth will take India to the Olympic podium,” he added.
During the programme, PM Modi also virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of multiple key development projects in Sikkim. These include:
- A 500-bedded District Hospital in Namchi, worth over ₹750 crore
- A Passenger Ropeway at Sangachoeling, Pelling in Gyalshing District
- A statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Sangkhola, Gangtok
The Prime Minister also announced his upcoming visits to West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh on May 29 and 30, where he will dedicate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹70,000 crore.
The celebration marks not only 50 years of Sikkim’s journey within the Indian Union but also a broader vision of national progress driven by unity, youth empowerment, and grassroots excellence.
