Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister on Thursday announced that a much-needed world-class football stadium at Itanagar has been sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. Khandu made the announcement during the inaugural ceremony of the Under-23 Tri-Nation Championship 2026, involving Bhutan, Tajikistan and hosts India, which got off to an electric start at the Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium here in Papum Pare district on Thursday evening. Khandu stated that construction work of the stadium is set to commence within this year. He further highlighted the government’s continuous efforts toward strengthening sports infrastructure and nurturing sporting talent across the state. The inaugural ceremony was graced by India’s football icon and former captain Sunil Chetry along with State Sports Minister Kento Jini. Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Chetry encouraged the youth to take sports seriously and strive for excellence. The opening match of the tournament was played between Bhutan and Tajikistan, in which Tazikistan won by 1-0.
