Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday, June 21, 2026, visited the SAI Centre of Excellence at Anu in Hamirpur district, where he interacted with trainees, young athletes, and children, and announced that a world-class indoor stadium under construction in the Nadaun assembly constituency would be dedicated to players this year.

Context

During his visit to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre of Excellence at Anu, Hamirpur, Chief Minister Sukhu engaged directly with young athletes in training. He described the experience as an opportunity for 'aatmiya samvad' — a heartfelt dialogue — with the youth, noting their energy, discipline, and dedication to sport as 'extremely inspiring.'

The visit underlines the state government's emphasis on grassroots sports development, particularly in districts such as Hamirpur, which hosts key training infrastructure for Himachal Pradesh's emerging athletes.

Policy Backdrop

The centrepiece announcement from the visit is a state-of-the-art indoor stadium being built in Nadaun assembly constituency at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 125 crore. The facility is intended to provide world-class infrastructure for 14 sports, including swimming, badminton, volleyball, and tennis, and is slated for dedication to players within 2026.

The project fits into a broader pattern of Indian state governments investing in multi-sport indoor facilities to provide year-round training options — a priority in hilly states like Himachal Pradesh where terrain can limit outdoor infrastructure. Since assuming office in December 2022, the Sukhu-led government has positioned sports infrastructure and youth welfare as pillars of its development agenda, aligning with national frameworks such as the Khelo India programme.

Athlete Welfare Measures

Chief Minister Sukhu also highlighted a package of athlete welfare steps already implemented by his government. These include crore-rupee cash incentives for international medal winners, a 'significant increase' in diet money for players, and upgraded travel entitlements — AC train tickets and air travel — for athletes travelling for competition.

Such incentive structures are increasingly common tools used by state governments to retain sporting talent within their borders and encourage participation among youth. The combination of infrastructure investment and direct financial support signals an attempt to build a sustainable athlete pipeline in the state.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are young athletes and trainees at the SAI Centre in Hamirpur and, more broadly, the sports-going youth of Himachal Pradesh. The Nadaun indoor stadium, once operational, is expected to serve athletes across multiple disciplines in the Hamirpur region, reducing their dependence on facilities outside the state.

Closing his message, Chief Minister Sukhu urged youth to step forward in sports and bring glory to the state and the country — 'Pradesh aur desh ka naam roshan karein' (illuminate the name of the state and the nation).

What's Next

The key milestone to watch is the formal completion and dedication of the Nadaun indoor stadium within 2026, which will serve as a concrete measure of the government's sports infrastructure commitments. Any revision to state budget allocations for athlete incentives in the next fiscal year will also indicate whether the welfare push is being institutionalised beyond individual announcements.