TURA: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, on Friday, inaugurated the much-awaited PA Sangma sports complex in Tura.

Football enthusiasts feel that the newly inaugurated sports complex in Tura would serve as a boost for uplifting footballing in Meghalaya.

The PA Sangma sports complex in Tura was inaugurated by Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma in the presence of state health minister James Sangma.

A bust of late PA Sangma, a former Lok Sabha Speaker, was also unveiled on the occasion.

An official statement said the upgradation of the stadium has been a mammoth undertaking by the state government.

โ€œThe stadium is a technological marvel, being the countryโ€™s largest pre-engineered composite football stadium with a sizeable seating capacity of 9,500. The beautiful stadium is a part of an equally magnificent sports complex built at a cost of Rs 127.7 crore which is also nearing completion,โ€ the statement said.

โ€œThe Department of Sports and Youth Affairs in its quest to strengthen the sports eco-system and engage the youth of Meghalaya formulated the Sports Policy in 2019. Extensive efforts have been made to make world-class sports facilities available to the youth and athletes of the region. Such efforts have never been initiated earlier in the history of Meghalaya,โ€ the statement said.

Meanwhile, football enthusiasts have expressed pleasure over the inauguration of the stadium.

“It is a great development. We have been waiting for the inauguration of this stadium. It will boost footballing in the Garo Hills region and the state as a whole,” said Sushmita Marak, a football enthusiast.

Another football enthusiast, Moonlight Sangma said: “The infrastructure of the stadium is up to the mark and matches with many known football stadiums. It will help nurture footballing talents in the state.”