Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore hints at establishing a world-class football academy in Manipur

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore hints at establishing a world-class football academy in Manipur

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Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has stated that the sports ministry is contemplating setting up a world-class football academy in Manipur in collaboration with the state government. Manipur has been the football factory of India with multiple players from the state making to the national team.

After collectively hanging our heads in shame following the Rio Olympics debacle, Indian fans muttered a few expletives at the Government and demanded better sports administrators and infrastructure. Despite the need for an immediate change in the system in the way sports are organized in the nation by the government, it remained a fluke for a long time since and the announcement of "Khelo India" mostly remained within files.Ā 

But, after 2004 Athens Olympics medalist Rathore becoming India's sports and youth affairs minister, a flicker of hope has been born and with a new infrastructure developmental programme, Rathore stated that his ministry is actively considering setting up a world-class football academy in Manipur, which has been a hotbed for Indian football for a long time, in collaboration with the state government.

"A group of 20 students along with their teachers from Chandel district of Manipur here called on Minister of State (I/C) of Youth Affairs & sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore. Col. Rathore asked the students about their hobbies, studies and their interest in sports," a release from the ministry said, reported ToI.

"He (Rathore) said his ministry is actively considering for setting up a world-class football academy in collaboration with the state government in Manipur."

As many as eight players from the Northeastern Indian state found a place in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and noting thatĀ the minister announced the project. All the clubs in the I-League and Indian Super League has many players from the state.

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