On Tuesday, Chief Minister Manik Saha officially opened the All Tripura Inter-District Basketball Championship 2026 at the Netaji Subhas Regional Coaching Centre (NSRCC) in Agartala. This championship gathers skilled basketball players from various districts across the state, aiming to enhance sporting excellence, promote healthy competition, and encourage youth engagement in sports.

During his address, Chief Minister Saha highlighted how sports contribute to developing disciplined, healthy, and confident individuals. He reaffirmed the government's dedication to improving sports infrastructure and creating more opportunities for young athletes to shine on state, national, and international platforms. Saha emphasized that sports are vital for character development and social progress, urging participants to embody sportsmanship throughout the event.

In a conversation with a news outlet, CM Saha stressed the significance of fitness and sports for the youth, referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Fit India' initiative. He pointed out that India's vast youth demographic is a significant asset and underscored the necessity of maintaining a healthy mind and body. Saha mentioned ongoing efforts to enhance sports facilities throughout Tripura, which are already yielding positive outcomes. He encouraged youth involvement in sports, noting its benefits for academic performance and its role in steering young people away from drug abuse.

"As our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi always emphasizes, we need to be fit, a 'Fit India.' This is especially crucial for our young generation (aged 18 to 35), who represent our vital human resource; India possesses 65% of the world's young human capital, a figure unmatched by any other country. Whenever the 'Mann Ki Baat' program airs, the Prime Minister invariably interacts with athletes, particularly those who have won medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games, asking them about their success. This underscores the principle that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body," he stated.

"Together, we are developing sports infrastructure across Tripura, an effort that is already yielding visible results. I am here for the All-Tripura Basketball Tournament, a three-day event. I have encouraged the children to participate; engaging in sports not only helps keep them away from the menace of drug addiction, a major challenge we are battling, but also improves their academic performance," he added.

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Tinku Roy, along with other dignitaries, officials from the Sports Department, coaches, athletes, and sports enthusiasts, attended the inaugural ceremony. The championship is anticipated to see enthusiastic participation from teams across different districts of Tripura, serving as a platform to discover emerging basketball talent within the state.

Officials noted that this tournament is part of a larger initiative to foster a sports culture and support promising athletes through regular competitions and enhanced training facilities.