Malabar to get ₹50-crore international football stadium as Budget boosts sports sector

The State government has unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening sports infrastructure, widening student participation and nurturing future champions. It has earmarked ₹173.77 crore for the Sports and Youth Affairs sector and an additional ₹50 crore for the construction of an international-standard football stadium in the Malabar region.

According to the proposal, the football stadium will be developed with modern facilities. The project was conceived in view of football’s enduring popularity in Kerala, particularly in the Malabar region, long regarded as the State’s football heartland.

Sports enthusiasts from various academies said the stadium is expected to strengthen Kerala’s sports infrastructure, improve training opportunities for aspiring footballers, and enhance the State’s capacity to host major sporting events.

Alongside infrastructure development, the government has outlined measures to increase sports participation among youth. The Budget proposes the optimum utilisation of playgrounds and sports facilities on college campuses and makes participation in at least one sport or the National Cadet Corps (NCC) mandatory for students.

“The Budget also proposes initiatives to encourage greater participation in sports and other constructive activities among youth while helping deter drug abuse and other undesirable practices. It is a timely action plan,” said Shanavas Ponnadam, a member of a football club in Kozhikode. He added that the services of retired coaches should be utilised to strengthen training programmes and mentor students and emerging athletes.

A major component of the government’s sports strategy is the launch of Vision 2036, a talent identification and development programme aimed at preparing athletes for the 2036 Olympic Games. Under the initiative, children with exceptional sporting abilities will be identified at an early stage and provided intensive coaching and scientific training to help them compete at the highest level.

The Budget also promises to create a structured pathway for athletes to progress through national and international competitions, strengthening the State’s presence at major global sporting events, including the Olympics.

Eminent trainers associated with various District Sports Councils in Kerala said the Budget proposals reflected a dual focus on expanding grassroots participation and building high-performance sports systems. They also hailed them as a major blueprint for sports infrastructure development and a means to capitalise on the State’s passion for football to promote greater participation.