Nagaland finished at the bottom of the table
Sentsuthung Odyuo
The 2025 National Games of India, held in Uttarakhand, concluded with a stark contrast in performances among states. At the top of the medal tally, Maharashtra dominated with 129 medals, showcasing its well-developed sports infrastructure and training programs. Meanwhile, Manipur, Nagaland’s neighbouring state, secured an impressive 41 medals, including 12 gold, 13 silver, and 16 bronze, placing it within the top 10 states at the Games.
In contrast, Nagaland finished at the bottom of the table, managing to secure only two bronze medals throughout the competition. This underwhelming performance highlights deep-rooted structural issues in the state's sports ecosystem, ranging from talent identification and selection processes to inadequate infrastructure and a lack of full-time professional athletes. With states like Manipur consistently producing national and international-level players despite facing socio-political challenges, Nagaland must critically reassess its sports policies if it hopes to improve in future competitions.
Infrastructure and Resource Utilization: Where Are the Funds Going?
There is no denying that funds are being allocated for sports development in Nagaland. However, if the state continues to underperform at major events, it raises the question: where is the investment going? Unlike other states, which have leveraged their resources to build training academies, athlete support systems, and coaching facilities, Nagaland lacks a comprehensive plan for long-term sports development. It takes more than a decade for Nagaland to build even a small stadium. As appeared in Nagaland Post (March 14, 2023), “Even after 17 years, the dream project called ‘Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex (MDSC) at Dimapur, is light years away from completion and instead of a lively sports centre, the unfinished structure looks like a desolate ancient Roman amphitheatre and used for unsporting activities”.
A major issue is the lack of high-performance training centres equipped with professional coaching, sports science, and nutrition programs. Without these essentials, athletes struggle to compete against states that provide their players with world-class preparation. The solution is not merely increasing funding but ensuring that funds are effectively utilized to create a sustainable ecosystem for sports in the state.
Meritocracy vs. Favoritism: The Need for Transparent Selection
One of the biggest roadblocks to Nagaland’s sporting success lies in its flawed selection process. Despite the state's active participation in events such as the Nagaland Olympic Games and the Northeast Games, there are persistent concerns that favouritism, clannism, tribalism, and politics are undermining the merit-based selection of athletes. In many cases, coaches have considerable power in deciding the composition of the team. According to the report from The Naga Republic (March 12, 2024), “We continue to see how coaches decide the composition of the team. If the coach belongs to tribe A, there is a tendency to see that most of the players are also from tribe A,” adding that such practices exist from the village-district level all the way to the state level. This systemic bias creates demotivation to talented athletes who might not have the same tribal affiliations but also weakens the overall competitiveness of the state's teams. In stark contrast, states with top performers have established a system where performance and skill are the primary criteria for selection, resulting in a more robust and successful sporting framework. For Nagaland to rise above its current standing, it must overhaul its selection process to ensure transparency and true meritocracy. Only by doing so can the state unlock the full potential of its athletes and build a foundation for sustained sporting excellence.
The Limitations of Group Sports Dominance
Football, volleyball, and basketball have long been the preferred sports in Nagaland. Youngsters grow up playing these games, yet the state has failed to translate this into significant regional or national success. The reason is twofold: lack of structured development and intense national competition in these sports. Without a professional league system or high-level academies within the state, Naga athletes are at a disadvantage compared to those from Karnataka, West Bengal, or Goa, where club-based football and volleyball are highly competitive.
Additionally, an overemphasis on team sports means that individual disciplines like boxing, weightlifting, wushu and archery where Northeast states like Manipur and Assam have excelled are not given enough attention. If Nagaland wants to secure a place on the national medal tally, diversification in sporting disciplines is crucial. Encouraging young athletes to explore sports where individual effort can bring success should be a priority.
The Challenge of Dual Careers: Why Athletes Can’t Be Part-Time Players
One of the biggest cultural barriers in Nagaland is the perception of sports as merely a recreational activity rather than a legitimate career path. Parents, educators, and policymakers must recognize that sports can provide stability, financial success, and international opportunities. Currently, Nagaland has produced only one Olympian and one Paralympian in decades. This is a stark indicator that something needs to change. The state must encourage young athletes to dream bigger and provide the necessary resources to turn those dreams into reality. Unlike in states with professional sports cultures, many athletes in Nagaland juggle government jobs or other professions while trying to compete at a high level. This dual-career model limits training time, reduces competitiveness and prevents sports from being seen as a viable full-time career. If Nagaland wants to develop national-level athletes, sports must be treated as a profession, not just a passion.
The Sports Authority of Nagaland must establish programs that provide athletes with financial stability, scholarships, and professional contracts. When players know they can sustain themselves through sports, they will be more willing to dedicate themselves fully to their craft.
The Role of Schools & Colleges: The Foundation of a Sports Culture
Collegiate and school-level sports in Nagaland have the potential to be a transformative force in nurturing future talent, yet their impact remains minimal. Too often, college sports meets are treated merely as formalities rather than as platforms for real opportunity, and some college administrations even restrict student participation for fear of compromising academics. This limited approach not only stifles budding talent but also perpetuates a narrow focus on a few popular games, rather than encouraging a broader range of sports.
Adding to this challenge, a poll conducted by Morung Express (January 27, 2024), highlighted urgent public sentiment for a comprehensive overhaul at the grassroots level. Respondents emphasized that the state government needs to implement a holistic sports policy that introduces sports in all government schools with proper sports fields and facilities. Moreover, they also argued that sports should not be managed under the broader umbrella of the youth resources and sports department; instead, a dedicated department for sports is essential to ensure focused growth and professional development. Such strategic changes would help integrate sports into the educational framework of Nagaland and create robust pipelines for nurturing talent from a young age. If Nagaland’s educational institutions can follow the model seen in top global universities where talented athletes receive scholarships, professional coaching, and clear pathways to higher education, the state could see a significant rise in its sporting prowess. Reforming the school and collegiate sports system is not just about increasing participation; it’s about creating an environment where sports is recognized as a viable and rewarding career path, fundamentally altering the mindset of parents, educators, and policymakers alike.
Conclusion: Time for Urgent Action
Nagaland’s dismal performance at the 2025 National Games is not a reflection of a lack of raw talent, but rather the result of systemic failures in selection, training, infrastructure, and policy execution. The state must urgently adopt reforms that prioritize merit-based selection, invest in modern training facilities, professionalize athlete support, and reengineer the school and collegiate sports systems to create a robust foundation for nurturing talent.
There is widespread recognition of the need for specialized coaching and comprehensive training programmes that will be able to nurture and mentor young talents through real professionals in multidisciplinary fields of games and sports with the requisite infrastructure. A poll conducted by Morung Express (January 27, 2024), further emphasized public sentiment for reform. Respondents argued that the state government must develop a comprehensive sports policy that introduces sports in all government schools - with proper sports fields and facilities As one observer noted, “When we talk about sports, it is not just about raw talent and grooming them to become professional players. We Nagas are very emotional people and lack objectivity. We have also become very undisciplined. This is where sports management and coaches become necessary. Our Naga sportspersons need to have discipline and focus.” Additionally, it is widely believed that better coaching could have led the Nagaland team to secure more medals in previous events.
It is also worth recalling that in 2022, during a sports event, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio remarked- as reported by the Times of India (2022), that despite a resource crunch, the state government, with the support of the Khelo India Mission, was making every effort to develop sports infrastructure in every district. However, this statement has not translated into practical applicability on the ground. The dismal experience at the National Games starkly indicates that promises remain unfulfilled. The Government of Nagaland must walk the talk, ensuring that such assurances are backed by tangible improvements.
Learning from the successful models of states like Manipur, Maharashtra and Karnataka where early talent identification, professional training, and disciplined sports management have led to consistent national success, Nagaland must embrace a long-term, strategic vision. Only through transparent selection processes, proper infrastructural investment, and a cultural shift that sees sports as a viable career can Nagaland hope to transform its sporting future.
In a positive development hinting at future progress, Abu Metha, the Advisor to the Chief Minister, of Nagaland, and Chairman of the Investments and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), has been elected as Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for the term 2025-2029 (Nagaland Tribune, January 8, 2025). Metha, who previously held the post of Associate Vice President of AFI, signals that with such leadership and commitment, there are promising prospects for the state's sports ecosystem in the near future. With a clear, structured plan and a commitment to these reforms, Nagaland has the potential to emerge as a formidable sporting state and inspire future generations to view sports not merely as recreation, but as a legitimate and rewarding career pathway.
(The writer can be reached at sentsuthung.odyuo@res.christuniversity.in)
