Pankaj Nath, Assam: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday formally inaugurated the National Swimming Excellence Centre built by the state government in Amingaon, Kamrup district, Assam . The opening ceremony featured performances in artistic gymnastics diving and water polo by several athletes, and a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Assam Sports Authority, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Badminton Association of India.Constructed at a cost of approximately INR 50 crore, the world-class facility includes a 50-metre, nine-lane swimming pool, a 25-metre diving pool and an Olympic-standard pool, along with a spectator gallery with a seating capacity of 1,309. In the initial phase, the centre will provide residential training facilities for 40 athletes, while local sportspersons will also be able to train under special SAI programmes.
The Chief Minister announced that management responsibility for the centre has been entrusted to the Sports Authority of India for the next 30 years. SAI will oversee overall administration, appointment of coaches and support staff, provision of sports equipment, and the organisation of training camps and competitions. Dr. Sarma expressed hope that, like the state’s successful badminton players, the new swimming centre will produce athletes who succeed at national and international levels. Dr. Sarma said the Amingaon swimming project, together with existing cricket and badminton facilities, will help develop the area into a major sports hub in the state. He added that a new cricket stadium being built in Guwahati—estimated to cost around INR 300 crore—is scheduled to be inaugurated in 2027. To accommodate athletes and spectators visiting Amingaon, the main road is being widened and a multi-level parking complex with capacity for about 2,000 vehicles is under construction. Hostel facilities for players and coaches are also being provided. The inauguration was attended by Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Biswajit Daimary, Member of Parliament Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLAs Prakash Das and Diganta Kalita, SAI Deputy Director-General Manjushri Dayanand, and several state government and SAI officials and dignitaries. Dr. Sarma further stated that other state sports infrastructure projects are being modernised. Plans include redevelopment of the old Nehru Stadium and the proposed construction of an FIFA-standard football stadium at the Radha Govinda Barua sports complex. He said completion of these projects would help place Guwahati among India’s leading cities in terms of sports facilities. The government will continue working to provide emerging athletes from the state with improved international-standard amenities.
