TN seeks 2029 National Games hosting, Aadhav Arjuna meets Union Minister Mandaviya
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday formally expressed its interest in hosting the 2029 National Games and sought the Centre’s support for a wide-ranging sports infrastructure expansion plan across the state, aimed at strengthening its position as a key sporting hub in the country.
State Minister for Public Works, Highways and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna met Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi and submitted a comprehensive memorandum detailing the proposals.
The initiatives, according to an official release, were prepared on the directions of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and are aimed at using sports as a tool for social development while aligning with India’s ambition of becoming a global sports powerhouse .
The Union Minister appreciated Tamil Nadu’s proposals and assured support and cooperation from the Centre , the release said.
The memorandum highlighted the state’s experience in hosting major sporting events and proposed setting up multiple specialised facilities, including a National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) for Combat Sports at the proposed 48-acre Trichy Olympic Academy .
It also proposed an NCOE for Beach Sports in Nagapattinam district , aimed at utilising coastal talent and leveraging the state’s 1,076 km coastline .
To strengthen performance in cycling, the state proposed an international-standard UCI-compliant indoor cycling velodrome and a National Cycling High-Performance Centre in Coimbatore .
As part of balanced regional sports development, the proposals include district-level infrastructure upgrades such as 400m synthetic athletic tracks in Pudukkottai, Thoothukudi, Villupuram, Tiruvallur and Krishnagiri districts.
The plan also includes Olympic-standard aquatic complexes in Coimbatore, Chengalpattu, Tiruvarur and Tiruppur, along with multipurpose indoor stadiums in Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli, Ranipet and Cuddalore.
An International Sport Climbing Centre in Chennai has also been proposed to support emerging disciplines and enhance future Olympic prospects.
In addition, Chennai is proposed to host a National Anti-Doping Education and Awareness Centre in collaboration with NADA to promote a clean and value-based sporting ecosystem .
A National Sports Science, Sports Medicine, Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre has been proposed in Madurai to support athletes from across the country.
The state has also sought expansion of the Khelo India ecosystem , proposing coverage of at least two priority sports disciplines in every district of Tamil Nadu.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Sajjansingh R Chavan, Secretary to the Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, and J Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.