CM Sukhu Announces Indoor Stadium, Sports Push in HP
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a modern 14-sport indoor stadium in Nadaun to be completed this year, plans to bid for Khelo India hosting rights, new sports hostels, a historic diet money hike, and air travel benefits for state athletes.
Key Takeaways
A modern indoor stadium accommodating 14 sports is under construction in Nadaun, Hamirpur district , and is to be inaugurated in 2026 .
CM Sukhu has stated that Himachal Pradesh is seeking to host the Khelo India games.
Sports hostels are being established across the state to support resident athletes.
The government has announced a 'historic increase' in diet money for athlete nutrition.
Athletes will now be entitled to both AC rail tickets and air travel facilities for competition travel.
The measures target grassroots sporting talent in a hill state that has historically faced infrastructure constraints.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday, 22 June 2026, announced a sweeping set of sports infrastructure and athlete welfare measures for the state, including the construction of a modern indoor stadium in Nadaun and a bid to host the Khelo India games.
Context
Posting on X, Chief Minister Sukhu said the enthusiasm of Himachal Pradesh's children for sports is 'extraordinary' and that guiding their future is a 'priority' of his government. He announced that a multi-sport indoor stadium is under construction in Nadaun, a town in Hamirpur district, and pledged it would be 'dedicated to players this very year.' The post, originally in Hindi, stated: 'हम नादौन में एक आधुनिक इंडोर स्टेडियम बना रहे हैं' ('We are building a modern indoor stadium in Nadaun').
The facility is set to house infrastructure for 14 different sports, making it one of the more comprehensive multi-sport venues in the hill state. The Chief Minister also confirmed that sports hostels are being established to support resident athletes.
Policy Backdrop
The announcements align with the broader national Khelo India programme, launched by the Government of India in 2017, which provides states with funding and frameworks to develop grassroots sports culture and infrastructure. Chief Minister Sukhu stated that the state government is actively seeking an opportunity for Himachal Pradesh to host the Khelo India games — a significant boost that would bring national visibility and additional infrastructure investment to the state.
Smaller hill states such as Himachal Pradesh have historically faced geographic and resource constraints in sports development. Multi-sport indoor facilities of the kind being built in Nadaun are seen as a way to offset those disadvantages and retain local sporting talent within the state.
On athlete welfare, the Chief Minister announced a 'historic increase' in diet money for players' nutrition, and said the current government is providing both AC rail tickets and air travel facilities to ease athletes' travel burdens — a notable upgrade in support compared to previous norms.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries are young athletes and sportspersons of Himachal Pradesh, who stand to gain access to a state-of-the-art training venue, residential hostel facilities, improved nutrition support, and subsidised travel. The Nadaun stadium, once operational, is expected to serve athletes from across Hamirpur and neighbouring districts.
A successful bid for Khelo India hosting rights would further amplify the impact, drawing national-level competition and investment to the state and providing local athletes with home-ground exposure to top-tier competition.
What's Next
The key milestones to watch are the formal inauguration of the Nadaun indoor stadium — which CM Sukhu has indicated will happen within 2026 — and any official submission by Himachal Pradesh to the central government for Khelo India hosting rights. The rollout of sports hostels and the implementation of enhanced diet money and travel benefits for registered athletes will also be closely tracked by the sporting community in the state.
Point of View
Sectors with broad cross-demographic appeal. By anchoring multiple welfare measures — infrastructure, nutrition, travel — in a single communication, the administration is signalling a comprehensive athlete-welfare policy rather than piecemeal gestures. The bid for Khelo India hosting rights, if successful, would deliver a national-stage moment that could significantly lift the government's visibility ahead of future electoral cycles. The broader pattern mirrors moves by other state governments that have used central sports schemes as leverage for local capacity-building and political credit.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new indoor stadium being built in Himachal Pradesh?
The new indoor stadium is being built in Nadaun , a town in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. CM Sukhu has announced it will be completed and dedicated to players in 2026 .
How many sports will the Nadaun indoor stadium support?
According to CM Sukhu's announcement, the Nadaun indoor stadium will have facilities for 14 different sports .
What is Khelo India and why does Himachal Pradesh want to host it?
Khelo India is a national sports promotion programme launched by the Government of India in 2017 to develop grassroots sports infrastructure and culture. Hosting the games would bring national competition, visibility, and additional infrastructure investment to Himachal Pradesh .
What travel benefits has the Himachal Pradesh government announced for athletes?
CM Sukhu announced that the state government is providing athletes with both AC rail tickets and air travel facilities to make competition travel easier — an upgrade on previous entitlements.
What welfare measures has the HP government announced for sportspersons?
The Himachal Pradesh government has announced a 'historic increase' in diet money for athlete nutrition, establishment of sports hostels , air and AC rail travel benefits, and the upcoming Nadaun indoor stadium with 14 sports facilities.
