Sports academies play a significant role in the development and success of athletes in various sports disciplines. These specialized training centers offer a structured environment where athletes can receive professional coaching, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and comprehensive support services. Sports academies develop young athletes’ skills and potential. There are only a handful of sports academies and all of them are concentrated in Kohima and Dimapur. If the government of Nagaland is to seriously pursue sports development, it should look beyond Kohima and Dimapur.
Nagaland State Sports Academy at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima; Sports Authority of India (SAI) Sports Training Centre, Dimapur; and State Sports Hostel, Dimapur are perhaps the biggest sports academies in Nagaland, all government-run. Private academies and clubs like Aries Sports Complex Shooting Range, Dimapur are also worthy of mention here. While it is understandable that all of these facilities are founded in anterior districts like Kohima and Dimapur, sports development in Nagaland cannot happen in the real sense of the term unless and until such facilities are provided to the rest of the districts as well. Meanwhile, we can aspire to have those facilities in Kohima and Dimapur being elevated to national sports academies.
At the same time, parents in the other districts should be willing to send their talented kids to attend the sports academies in Kohima and Dimapur. It can be argued that Mokokchung has the lowest athletes enrolled in the sports academies in Kohima and Dimapur. Other districts like Mon, Tuensang and even Noklak have good numbers of athletes enrolled in the academies which is why these districts have been doing much better than Mokokchung in the field of games and sports in recent times.
Meanwhile, it may seem like a long shot but there is nothing wrong in aspiring for a sports academy in Mokokchung. The importance of sports academies can be understood through the following key points: Skill Development; Specialized Training; Competitive Environment; Exposure and Opportunities; Mentorship and Guidance; Holistic Development; and Long-term Athlete Development. Sports academies also help athletes to balance academics and sports. This is important, as it can help to ensure that athletes have the opportunity to pursue a successful career in both sports and academics. Sports academies serve as vital platforms for nurturing talent, refining skills, and shaping the future generation of athletes, contributing to the overall growth and success of sports at local, national, and international levels.