Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay is playing a game-changing role in Sikkim’s sports revolution, boosting infrastructure, talent, and athlete support.
It is undoubtedly the best era to be a talented sportsperson in Sikkim. The days of unfulfilled dreams and fading aspirations due to a lack of institutional support are now a thing of the past. With Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay at the helm, every individual with potential is ensured ample opportunities to rise and shine on the grandest stages.
Since 2019, the SKM Government has been laying the groundwork for a sustainable and thriving sports ecosystem to nurture and promote Sikkimese talent. From extending critical financial support to sports associations and training centres to completing and constructing stadiums, the government has laid a strong foundation for athletic excellence. Grassroots-level promotion through schools and community programs keeps the ball rolling, ensuring that a new generation of champions is ready to take the spotlight.
At the heart of this transformation is the Chief Minister’s unwavering dedication and personal encouragement toward sports and sportspersons in Sikkim. His active engagement and patronage have infused hope and inspiration, empowering athletes to dream bigger and achieve more. Under his leadership, the dreams of Sikkim’s talented sportspersons are no longer distant aspirations but goals that are possible - ‘Golay Cha Ta Sambhav Cha’.
Given the plethora of initiatives that the SKM Government has started in sports, such as establishment of Tarundeep Rai Archery Academy, Jaslal Pradhan Boxing Academy, Sikkim Premier League and so on, I can safely conclude that no previous government has given as much importance to development of sports in Sikkim as the SKM government has, says Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay.
Sports Culture in Sikkim
Since the end of the two-year Covid pandemic, the period from 2019 onwards has proven to be a game changer for sports and athletes in Sikkim, thanks to the institutional support and personal patronage provided by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay. Local athletes, both professional and amateur, have pointed to one key development: the gradual emergence of a vibrant sports culture in Sikkim.
Chief Minister Golay has long advocated for fostering a sports-centric way of life in the State, understanding that sports have a far-reaching, transformative impact. His public speeches and conversations with local sportspersons have repeatedly emphasized the importance of cultivating a sports-minded society. This vision is backed by substantial support for the development of both sports infrastructure and individual athletes, and his acknowledgements of sports achievements on social media, ensuring that the foundation for growth is strong.
The Chief Minister believes that a strong sports culture benefits individuals and society as a whole by promoting physical and mental well-being, building social connections, teaching essential life skills, and creating opportunities for personal and collective growth. It not only contributes to a healthier, more cohesive society but also strengthens Sikkim’s identity on both national and international stages. ‘Team Sikkim’ is his collective call for the masses towards building a ‘Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samartha Sikkim’.
“There is unprecedented support for sports and sportspersons in Sikkim. We are seeing growth of a sports culture in Sikkim which is something that the Chief Minister wants to develop. All sports are given priority including football. We as former professional footballers are trying to bring professional football in Sikkim through Sikkim Premier League. Work is going on from our side with good support from the Chief Minister,” shares Sanju Pradhan, a former Indian international footballer from Sikkim.
Sikkim Premier League, an initiative backed strongly by the Chief Minister, is also a landmark addition to the Sikkim football landscape. Conducted by the Football Development Pvt Ltd, the Sikkim Premier League editions of 2023 and 2024 have seen overwhelming success with the overall intention to revive club football culture in the State. Former elite footballers of Sikkim – Sanju Pradhan, Nirmal Chhetri, Bikash Jairu, Nim Tshering Lepcha and Robin Gurung – are the Football Development Pvt Ltd mainstays.
Sanju adds that sports help kids to develop an all-round personality, learn the value of discipline and team work. Parents should encourage their kids towards sports as it also helps them in academics and keeps them away from unhealthy habits, he says.
Foundations for a sports ecosystem in Sikkim
Foundations for a robust sports landscape are being regularly strengthened under Golay’s leadership.
There are State Sports Awards which offer handsome cash prizes to medal-winning sportspersons and cash incentives to meritorious athletes annually. Completion of the Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi was an early achievement of the SKM Government in its first term, adding a top-notch sports infrastructure to the State.
In July 2023, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the Tarundeep Rai Archery Academy at Kitchudumra in Namchi District, providing a state-of-the-art facility to nurture archery talent and foster the growth of this sport. The archery academy will be equipped with modern and state-of-the-art infrastructure including an archery field, gymnasium and hostels for boys and girls.
Under the SKM government, the other key sports infrastructure works was establishment of a Sports Academy for Girls in Soreng, with a focus on encouraging female participation in sports. The Chief Minister has already announced to establish a state-of-the-art boxing academy in Sikkim to ensure that talented boxers of the State get the required training to excel. The academy will be named after Jaslal Pradhan, a former Olympian boxer and Arjuna awardee from Sikkim.
Uplifting sports talents of Sikkim is something that Golay is passionate about, as evident in his conversations with the local sportspersons.
“Whenever we get the opportunity to meet the Chief Minister, we always talk about sports and how to take Sikkim ahead in sports. He always asks on how the State government can give the best platform to the talented sportspersons of Sikkim, not only in football but in every sport. He speaks about bringing a sports culture to the State,” says Bikash Jairu, also a former Indian international from Sikkim.
“The Chief Minister constantly encourages our youngsters. He wants to see them playing at international levels. Our kids must take advantage of the support being extended to them,” adds Jairu.
Another significant step towards upgrading sports in Sikkim is the revival of the famed State Sports Academy (SSA) under the Sports department at Paljor Stadium.
The SSA is widely hailed for nurturing Sikkimese football talents who have gone to play for the Indian national football team, ISL and I-League clubs. The academy was closed down in 2020 following Covid pandemic. Now the academy is set to resume from the 2025 academic session with 30 best football talents selected from across the State.
Among the prominent SSA products is ex-player Nim Tshering Lepcha who says: “We shared our happiness to the Chief Minister on the revival of the State Sports Academy. We are products of this academy and are confident that with the Chief Minister’s support, it will be one of the best football academies of the country. We have shared with the Chief Minister for having a professional setup in the academy and exposure trips outside the State. He has assured to have the required facilities which will create an excellent training centre for our upcoming talents.”
The former professional footballers believe that the efforts being made for upscaling sports and sportspersons will bring results in due course of time, and overnight success must not be expected.
“We cannot expect overnight results or immediate tangible success. Through SPL with support of the Chief Minister, we have tried to bring professional football and club culture to Sikkim. It is happening gradually. Now we can see kids coming to practice football with dreams of playing in SPL. Same is happening in other sports. It will take time and we are positive that the sports level of Sikkim will reach high standards in coming years,” they assert.
At the same time, the former players urged the upcoming sports talents to value and take maximum benefit from the patronage coming from the Chief Minister and the Sikkim government.
“Earlier we did not have such facilities and travelling for tournaments outside the State used to be an ordeal. These days, our young sportspersons are facilitated with good travel arrangements. They must value this support and make maximum use of the facilities given to them to take forward their talents,” said the former footballers.
As the sports culture in Sikkim continues to evolve, the foundations laid by CM Golay promise a future where today's aspiring athletes will become tomorrow's champions.
SIKKIM SPORTS IN FOCUS
Key interventions and initiatives taken by the SKM Government to nurture sporting talent and achieving excellence in the field of sports…
· Initiation of the State Sport Award, which aims to motivate and encourage sports persons to excel at the National and International level. This prestigious award includes the State Sports Gold Award of Rs. 5 Lakh, State Sports Silver Award of Rs. 3 Lakh, and State Sports Bronze Award of Rs. 2 Lakh, presented on Independence Day annually.
· Providing cash incentive awards to meritorious sportspersons annually, recognizing and rewarding their outstanding achievements and dedication to sports.
· The construction of the Tarundeep Rai Archery Academy at Kitchudumra in Namchi District, providing a state-of-the-art facility to nurture archery talent and foster the growth of this sport. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang laid the foundation stone in July 2023. The archery academy will be equipped with modern and state-of-the-art infrastructure including an archery field, gymnasium and hostels for boys and girls. The academy, spread over one hectare area, will have the capacity of training 60 archers.
· Establishment of a Sports Academy for Girls in Soreng, with a focus on encouraging female participation in sports. The academy currently trains 32 women footballers, and two of them have been shortlisted to represent India in the National Camp.
· Launching the first-ever Sikkim Premier League providing a platform for local talent to showcase their skills and compete at a higher level.
· Successfully completing and inaugurating the long-awaited Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi in 2021, adding a top-notch sports infrastructure to the State. Despite cost and time overruns since 2012, the SKM government successfully dedicated this stadium to the people of Sikkim within 29 months of it taking charge of the State’s governance and invested Rs. 62.13 crore in this project.
· Inauguration of the Kyongsa Playground in Geyzing.
· State-of-the-art boxing academy will be set up in Sikkim to ensure that talented boxers of the State get the required training to excel. The academy will be named after Jaslal Pradhan, a former Olympian boxer and Arjuna Awardee from Sikkim.
· Revival of State Sports Academy under Sports Department. The academy is resuming with 30 best football talents selected from across Sikkim.