Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated a new synthetic football turf at the Mandalgitok Playground in Siju, South Garo Hills, on October 21, 2026. The new turf fulfills a commitment originally announced in October 2023 as part of a broader state initiative to develop 58 artificial football grounds at a sanctioned cost exceeding Rs 300 crore. Upon completion of these projects, the Chief Minister stated that Meghalaya expects to hold the highest number of artificial football turfs in India.
During the event, which featured an exhibition match between East Garo Hills XI and South Garo Hills XI,
Chief Minister Sangma highlighted that the state has invested over Rs 2,000 crore in sports infrastructure over the past eight years, encompassing stadiums, swimming pools, and indoor facilities across all 60 constituencies. He emphasized that the facility is intended to nurture local talent, with the goal of
producing athletes capable of competing at national and international levels, including the Asian Games and the Olympics.
The Chief Minister extended his gratitude to the A•king Nokma for donating the land required for the project.
He further suggested that the area holds significant sports tourism potential and proposed the development of a tourist lodge and restaurant near the playground. Additionally,
the government plans to organize grassroots tournaments across various age groups to identify and support promising football players. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Rongara-Siju MLA and former Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma, Rongjeng MLA Jim M. Sangma, Chokpot MLA Sengchim N. Sangma, and South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Sumit Kumar Singh.
