Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday inaugurated the artificial football turf here at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy in presence of his cabinet colleagues, Sports Parliamentary Secretary Nyamar Karbak and officials from the sports department.
Khandu was given a rousing reception by students of Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy.
He met the Arunachal football team that represented the state in the Junior (U-19) National Football Championship for BC Roy Trophy held this year. The Chief Minister congratulated the team for making it to the semi-finals, where they lost to Jharkhand.
He later kicked off an inaugural friendly football match between CM XI and the Arunachal Football Association, which was won by the latter with 3-2 goals.
The scheme for the artificial football turf was approved in 2010-2011 under Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) for Rs 4.50 crore during the regime of former Chief Minister late Dorjee Khandu.
The centre in that year also approved Rs 5 crore for Hockey Astro turf for Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy. About 75% work is completed for Hockey AstroTurf and is expected to be completed by the end of this month, as per the department source.