Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin distributing Kalaignar Sports Kit to sportspersons in Tiruchi on Friday. | Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday said Tamil Nadu had seen significant improvement in sports infrastructure since the DMK government assumed office in 2021. He was giving away sports kits to beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Sports Equipment Programme being implemented in urban local bodies in 10 districts. Mr. Udhayanidhi said that the State had been marching ahead in identifying talented sports persons at their tender age. Many of them had taken part in the national and international sports meets and won laurels for the State. Chief Minister’s Trophies sports meet, being held in all districts every year, had helped the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) to identify new talent. Similarly, Mr. Udhayanidhi said sports infrastructure had seen a significant growth during the DMK rule. A total of 141 mini stadiums were built since 2021. As against the allocation of ₹380 crore during the 10-year rule of two successive AIADMK governments, ₹600 was allocated for the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare since 2021. He said the Kalaignar Sports Kit scheme was launched in 2024 to cover all village panchayats. The scheme had now been expanded to cover 25 municipal corporations, 145 municipalities, and 479 town panchayats in the State. It would benefit the sports enthusiasts from urban local bodies, Mr. Udhayanidhi said and added that the State government had given employment to 100 persons under the sports quota last year. A total of 150 persons would be given the appointment orders shortly. Minister for Municipal Administration K.N. Nehru and Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi were present. Event in Thanjavur Shortly after the inauguration of the scheme for 10 districts in Tiruchi, Collector Priyanka Pankajam started distributing sports kit to various beneficiaries at a function held in Thanjavur. She said that sports kits worth ₹2.92 crore would be distributed to 732 groups. Published – February 06, 2026 08:17 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Tension prevails as villagers block forest officials’ entry to Kolleru Lake L-G attends live streaming of Pariksha Pe Charcha programme