Guwahati: A Rs 50-crore swimming centre was inaugurated at Amingaon on Friday, expanding the city’s sports infrastructure.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the National Centre of Excellence for Swimming, which has a 50-metre, nine-lane competition pool, a 25-metre diving pool and a 1,309-seat gallery.The centre will initially accommodate 40 residential athletes. Local swimmers will also receive training under a Sports Authority of India (SAI) scheme.An MoU was signed by the Assam Sports Authority, SAI and the Badminton Association of India to develop and manage sports facilities. SAI will operate the swimming centre for 30 years and oversee its management, staff, equipment, training camps and competitions.Sarma said the centre would help produce swimmers capable of competing nationally and internationally. He cited badminton player Asmita Chaliha, who trained at Amingaon’s National Centre of Excellence for Badminton, as an example of such facilities’ potential.Amingaon is emerging as a multi-sport hub. The cricket stadium under construction there, estimated to cost Rs 300 crore, is scheduled for inauguration in 2027, Sarma said.Road widening, parking for around 2,000 vehicles, and athlete and coach hostels are planned or underway.Sarma said Arjuna Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex at Sarusajai would be upgraded this year. A FIFA-standard football stadium is also being built at the old Nehru Stadium.“After all these works are completed, Guwahati will also be included in the list of major cities with the highest number of sports facilities,” Sarma said. Sports infrastructure is also being developed in Dibrugarh.
