Chennai, June 4:
Tamil Nadu Minister for Public Works, Highways and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna on Wednesday met Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi and submitted a detailed memorandum expressing the State’s interest in hosting the National Games 2029, along with proposals for large-scale sports infrastructure development.
During the meeting, Arjuna highlighted Tamil Nadu’s track record in hosting major national and international sporting events and presented a vision to position the State as India’s leading sporting destination, stating that the National Games would help create a long-term infrastructure legacy.
He proposed setting up a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Combat Sports at the upcoming 48-acre Trichy Olympic Academy, along with a National Centre of Excellence for Beach Sports in Nagapattinam, leveraging Tamil Nadu’s 1,076 km coastline and local talent base.
The memorandum also suggested an international-standard UCI-compliant indoor cycling velodrome and a National Cycling High-Performance Centre in Coimbatore, aimed at strengthening the State’s cycling ecosystem.
To decentralise athletics development, the State proposed laying international-standard 400m synthetic tracks in Pudukkottai, Thoothukudi, Villupuram, Tiruvallur and Krishnagiri districts, along with Olympic-standard aquatic complexes in Coimbatore, Chengalpattu, Tiruvarur and Tiruppur.
Further proposals included multipurpose indoor stadiums in Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli, Ranipet and Cuddalore, and an International Sport Climbing Centre in Chennai to tap Olympic potential in emerging disciplines.
The State also sought expansion of the Khelo India ecosystem with additional centres across all districts, ensuring coverage of at least two priority sports per district.
Arjuna proposed a National Anti-Doping Education and Awareness Centre in Chennai in collaboration with the National Anti-Doping Agency, as well as a National Sports Science, Medicine, Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre in Madurai.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya appreciated Tamil Nadu’s initiatives and assured full support and cooperation.
Arjuna said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay views sports as a tool for social change, aimed at channeling youth energy positively, promoting healthy lifestyles, and building a drug-free society through value-based sports development.