Gangtok: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi teamed up with his “young friends” for a football match in Sikkim’s capital Gangtok, terming it a delightful morning and an “energising session”.
He posted photos of the match on X, stating: “Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!”
In a separate post, he noted, “Clearly, an energising football session with these youngsters!”
The sport commands huge following in the Northeast, ranking as a top passion there and often matching or exceeding cricket’s appeal in places like Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
In fact, the eight northeastern states — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — make up roughly 3.8% of India’s population but consistently churn out about one-third or more of some of the finest football players for the Indian Super League (ISL) and other leading competitions.
The Prime Minister arrived in Gangtok on Monday to attend the finale of Sikkim’s 50th statehood anniversary event.
He took part in a two-km cultural procession, greeted by crowds along the routes who waved tricolours and wore traditional dress.
Earlier on Monday, the prime minister had “enriching interaction” with Padma awardees and notable experts from diverse areas.
Detailing of the meeting in an X post, he described it as “wonderful discussing a wide range of issues” with guests, stressing the need to connect with those driving progress across fields.
According to officials, it featured Padma awardees, social activists, artists, scholars, athletes, and others acclaimed for their domain excellence and service. Such meetings with awardees and leaders form part of PM Modi’s wider efforts to celebrate local builders and pioneers who played a key role in nation-building.
Sources indicate talks touched on development, culture, innovation, education, social welfare, and youth prospects. The attendees shared the experiences and suggestions with the Prime Minister.
