SHILLONG, OCT 28: Meghalaya’s search for future Olympians has entered its fourth cycle, with Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Monday launching the STAR Talent Identification Programme Phase-IV (TID-4) at SAI STC, NEHU, Shillong.
The statewide screening will cover 13,000 participants — 10,000 school athletes and 3,000 association pathway athletes — across all 12 districts. The launch programme was attended by 120 aspiring athletes.
Organised by the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs and technical partner Sportality Pvt Ltd, TID-4 will test youngsters through height-weight measurement, 20-metre sprint, Compass Drill, vertical jump, seated medicine ball chest throw and endurance test.
Addressing the athletes, Shylla said the government under Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is aiming beyond state and national medals.
“There is a phrase, ‘catch them young’. It is right here that we have to catch young talents, nurture them and make you athletes who will bring laurels to the state. The aim is not only to produce athletes for state and national competitions, but to make Olympians,” he said.
Shylla said athletes picked for the Super Elite Pathway Programme (SEPP) will get full scholarships covering accommodation, education, training and food.
He said medal winners at national level, Asian Games, Olympic and Paralympic Games will get direct government jobs without examinations under the Meghalaya Outstanding Sportspersons’ Direct Appointment Policy.
He added that the newly inaugurated Sports Science Centre in Shillong — only the second in the Northeast — will help in better screening and faster recovery, and that special treatment packages and insurance for injured sportspersons are being worked out with the Health Department as the state builds infrastructure for hosting the National Games.
MSOA Working President John F Kharshiing said TID, started in 2022, has created a quarterly-reviewed database of sporting talent that helps identify priority sports.
“Meghalaya has broken several of its own records, discovered talent in new disciplines. A sport introduced only months ago has already won bronze at the Under-18 National Championship in Odisha,” Kharshiing said, expressing hope for the state’s best show at the upcoming 39th National Games.
Promising athletes from TID-4 will move into the Elite Pathway Programme (EPP) for structured coaching and repeated assessment, and then to SEPP for sport-specific development and competition preparation.
The launch was attended by Sports Director Alertson Nongbri, Deputy Director P B War Nongbri, MSOA Podium Committee Chairman Dipshon Ryntathiang, Sportality Co-Founder Vikram Malik, Director Recruiting Col Vinay Kumar, Lt Col (Retd) S Marbaniang and office-bearers of state sports associations.
