PM Modi plays football with 17 Sikkim youth in Gangtok, players call it unforgettable
Synopsis
Prime Minister Modi swapped formal engagements for a football kickabout with 17 young players at Lok Bhawan in Gangtok — and for those players, it was anything but ordinary. Footballer Prekila Tamang said it felt less like meeting the PM and more like playing with a close friend, in a session that touched on fitness, discipline, and the power of sport.
Key Takeaways
17 young footballers from across Sikkim played football with PM Narendra Modi at Lok Bhawan, Gangtok on 29 April 2025 .
Player Prekila Tamang said the interaction felt like spending time with "someone very warm and friendly" rather than a formal meeting.
Modi spoke to the players about health, fitness, discipline and the importance of pursuing sports seriously.
Modi shared moments from the session on X , writing: "Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!" Players thanked the Sikkim state government and the sports department for arranging the interaction during the PM's state visit.
A group of 17 young footballers from across Sikkim on Wednesday, 29 April described their interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an "unforgettable" experience, after getting the opportunity to play football with him at Lok Bhawan in Gangtok. The players, representing different parts of the Himalayan state including Namchi and several other regions, called it a rare and proud moment in their sporting journey.
A Rare Moment on the Field
The informal football session took place during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Sikkim, offering the young players a once-in-a-lifetime interaction with the country's top leader. Speaking on behalf of the group, Prekila Tamang said the occasion felt far removed from a formal meeting. "It never felt like we were meeting the Prime Minister. It felt like we were playing and talking with someone very warm and friendly," she said.
Tamang added that the conversation extended well beyond the game itself. "We had an open conversation. He encouraged us to stay fit, work hard and continue pursuing sports seriously," she said, noting that Modi spoke to them about health, fitness, discipline and the importance of sports in shaping young lives.
What Modi Said
Prime Minister Modi had on Tuesday shared a glimpse of the session on social media platform X, uploading moments from the informal football match with local children and youths. "Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning! ⚽️" he wrote, highlighting youth engagement and the value of sports. The post drew warm reactions online, with Modi appearing relaxed and energetic alongside the youngsters on the field.
Gratitude from Players and Officials
The footballers expressed their gratitude to the Sikkim state government, officials, and the sports department for arranging the interaction during the Prime Minister's visit. The players said the experience would remain one of the proudest moments of their sporting careers, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that few athletes from the region could ever hope for.
Sports and Youth Engagement in Focus
The session reflects a broader emphasis on youth sports outreach, with Modi's informal engagements with young athletes becoming a recurring feature of his state visits. For Sikkim — a state with a growing football culture and a tradition of producing athletes — the interaction is likely to serve as a source of inspiration for young players across the region. Whether it translates into greater investment in grassroots sports infrastructure in the state remains to be seen.
Point of View
Part optics. For the 17 players from Sikkim, the moment was undeniably genuine and meaningful. But the harder question is whether such high-visibility interactions translate into sustained policy attention for grassroots sports infrastructure in smaller states like Sikkim, which remain underserved despite producing talented athletes. A photograph on X is not a sports budget.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did PM Modi play football with Sikkim youth?
PM Modi played football with 17 young players from Sikkim at Lok Bhawan in Gangtok during his visit to the state. The informal session took place on Tuesday, 29 April 2025.
Who is Prekila Tamang?
Prekila Tamang is one of the 17 young footballers from Sikkim who participated in the informal football session with Prime Minister Modi at Lok Bhawan, Gangtok. She spoke on behalf of the group, describing the interaction as warm and friendly rather than formal.
What did PM Modi say about the football session?
PM Modi shared moments from the session on X, writing: "Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!" He also spoke to the players about health, fitness, discipline, and the importance of sports in shaping young lives.
Why is PM Modi's Sikkim visit significant?
Modi's visit to Sikkim included both official engagements and an informal football session with local youth, underlining a focus on youth outreach and sports engagement. The interaction was widely appreciated in the state and drew positive reactions on social media.
Which regions of Sikkim did the footballers represent?
The 17 footballers represented different parts of Sikkim, including Namchi and several other regions across the Himalayan state, according to reports from the interaction at Lok Bhawan.
