Raksha Khadse reviews KISCE Assam and Guwahati High Performance Centre
Synopsis
MoS Raksha Khadse's visit to Guwahati's KISCE Assam and High Performance Centre signals a deliberate push to build elite sports science infrastructure in the Northeast — a region historically underserved by India's high-performance ecosystem — with Commonwealth Games 2030 now on the government's radar.
Key Takeaways
MoS Raksha Khadse visited KISCE Assam and the High Performance Centre in Guwahati on 25 May 2025 .
She reviewed sports science labs , biomechanical assessment facilities , recovery units , and athlete support systems.
The visit included a review of Khelo India athlete development programmes and Northeast competitive pathways.
Senior officials including SAI Regional Director D.K.
Mittal and Special Secretary Kausar Jamil Hilaly accompanied the Minister.
The government cited Commonwealth Games 2030 as a key long-term sporting target driving infrastructure investment.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Sunday, 25 May 2025, visited the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) Assam and the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Guwahati, reviewing the Northeast's expanding high-performance sports ecosystem and interacting with athletes, coaches, sports science experts, and officials.
Facilities Reviewed
Khadse toured a range of training and rehabilitation infrastructure at the HPC, including sports science laboratories, recovery and rehabilitation units, physiological and biomechanical assessment facilities, and athlete support systems. The visit underscored the deepening integration of data-driven methodologies and sports technology into India's athlete development pipeline.
The High Performance Centre has emerged as a key sports science and rehabilitation hub for the region, equipped with modern systems for injury management, motion analysis, physiological testing, and performance enhancement.
What the Minister Said
Speaking at the facility, Khadse said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is witnessing a 'transformative expansion' in sports infrastructure, athlete support systems, and scientific training methodologies. She noted that centres like KISCE Assam and the HPC are 'playing a crucial role in nurturing talent and preparing athletes for international success.'
She also appreciated the dedication of athletes across disciplines and encouraged them to pursue excellence with 'discipline and determination', while reiterating the government's focus on strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure nationwide.
Officials Present
The Minister was accompanied by Kausar Jamil Hilaly, Special Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare; Ankur Bharali, Director, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare; D.K. Mittal, Regional Director, SAI Guwahati; the High Performance Manager of KISCE Assam; and senior departmental officials.
Khelo India Ecosystem and Northeast Pathways
Khadse also reviewed ongoing athlete development programmes under the broader Khelo India ecosystem, emphasising the need to strengthen competitive pathways for young athletes from the Northeast to perform at national and international levels. This comes amid a sustained government push to decentralise elite sports infrastructure beyond traditional hubs such as Delhi and Bengaluru.
Broader Sporting Ambitions
According to a release by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the visit reflects the government's long-term vision of building a 'scientifically driven, athlete-centric, and globally competitive' sporting ecosystem, with Commonwealth Games 2030 cited among India's forward-looking sporting targets. How effectively the Northeast's emerging infrastructure translates into podium performances at those events will be closely watched.
Point of View
But this one carries a pointed subtext: the Northeast has long been a talent reservoir — particularly in boxing, weightlifting, and football — that India's elite infrastructure network has underserved. Placing a functioning High Performance Centre with biomechanical and physiological labs in Guwahati is a structural step, not just optics. The real measure will be athlete retention and international results over the next three to five years. With Commonwealth Games 2030 invoked as a benchmark, the government has now set a verifiable goalpost — and that accountability cuts both ways.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) Assam?
KISCE Assam is a government-supported high-performance sports training centre in Guwahati, part of the broader Khelo India programme. It provides athletes with access to sports science laboratories, rehabilitation facilities, and structured development pathways for national and international competition.
What facilities did Raksha Khadse review at the High Performance Centre in Guwahati?
She reviewed sports science laboratories, recovery and rehabilitation units, physiological and biomechanical assessment facilities, motion analysis systems, and athlete support infrastructure. The centre is designed to support injury management and performance enhancement for regional athletes.
Why is the Northeast significant for India's sports development push?
The Northeast has historically produced elite athletes in disciplines such as boxing, weightlifting, and football, but has lacked proportionate elite training infrastructure. The KISCE and HPC in Guwahati represent a targeted effort to close that gap and build competitive pathways for young athletes from the region.
What is the government's long-term sporting target mentioned during the visit?
The Sports Authority of India cited Commonwealth Games 2030 as one of India's forward-looking sporting ambitions that the current infrastructure push — including centres like KISCE Assam and the Guwahati HPC — is designed to support.
Who accompanied MoS Raksha Khadse during the Guwahati visit?
She was accompanied by Special Secretary Kausar Jamil Hilaly, Director Ankur Bharali of the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, SAI Regional Director D.K. Mittal, the High Performance Manager of KISCE Assam, and other senior departmental officials.
