Shillong Jan 30: Meghalaya will host the 39th National Games in 2022, and the Coordination and Games Technical Conduct Committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has raised a number of questions on the state’s preparedness to host the games in the next two years.

The IOA’s Coordination and Games Technical Conduct Committee led by its chairman, Raj Kumar Sacheti visited the sites at Umsawli selected for building a new stadium and games village for the 2022 National Games.

Sacheti also held a meeting with Sports Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh along with officials of the state sports department and members of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association.

Though the IOA has shown in its website that the 39th National Games will be hosted by Meghalaya in 2023, Sacheti however downplayed it, and expressed confidence that the National Games in Meghalaya can happen in October-November, 2022 as the state is also keen to have it in 2022 as it coincides with the 50th year of statehood celebration.

The IOA has also shown that Uttarakhand will host the 38th National Games in 2022.

Sacheti said that his visit to Meghalaya was to know the status of the preparations for the national games for 2022.

There are doubts that Meghalaya cannot host the 39th national games in 2022 as the state may not be able to build all the required infrastructure within two years from now.

To a question if magic can happen that Meghalaya can complete building massive sports infrastructure within two years (that is) in 2022, Sacheti said, “If you have the will power, if you decide to do it, how much time it takes? We have two and half years, and with these timelines, they have prepared all the tender documents. If the bidding documents are out, then major construction work will start in June and we can achieve the target. Two and half years is a good time to build the infrastructure, if they can start by the June timeline.”

Sacheti also said that the state was now waiting from the Union ministry of social justice for the Cabinet approval of the bidding documents.