PM Modi Plays Football with Youth in Sikkim During Statehood Anniversary Visit
Prime Minister joins youngsters for energising session in Gangtok as part of two-day visit marking Sikkim's golden jubilee
Quick Look
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi played football with local youngsters during his two-day visit to Sikkim, sharing videos of the interaction on social media.
- The visit coincided with the closing ceremony of Sikkim's 50th anniversary of statehood, where Modi launched development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore across infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other sectors.
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Why It Matters
Sikkim became an Indian state in 1975, and 2026 marks its 50th anniversary of statehood. The golden jubilee year is being celebrated with various events, and the Prime Minister's visit underscores the significance of this milestone for the Himalayan state.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day visit to Sikkim, on Tuesday shared a video of himself playing football with youngsters in Gangtok. In the video posted by the Prime Minister on Instagram, PM Modi is seen in a blue sports jacket, taking a shot at goal before celebrating with the young players.
PM Modi on the field in Gangtok
He is also seen cheering and exchanging high-fives with the group, who are dressed in matching kits and carrying footballs. Earlier in the day, PM Modi had shared pictures from the interaction. "Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!," he wrote on X, alongside images of the session. In another post, he added, "Clearly, an energising football session with these youngsters!"
The informal sporting moment came amid the Prime Minister's official visit to the Himalayan state. Later in the day, PM Modi attended the closing ceremony marking 50 years of Sikkim's statehood and launched development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore. Officials said the projects span sectors including infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, power, urban development, environment, tourism and agriculture, and are aimed at boosting holistic and inclusive development in the state.
The visit marks a key milestone in Sikkim's golden jubilee year, reflecting the government's "continued commitment to the rapid and sustainable development of the Himalayan state."
