Overview
- Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal presented the inaugural honours at the Srimanta Sankardeva International Auditorium in Guwahati.
- The Assam Olympic Association structured the awards in six categories across national and state levels: Best Sportsperson, Emerging Player, and Lifetime Achievement.
- Inaugural recipients included shooter Manu Bhaker, footballer Sunil Chhetri, weightlifter Bedabrat Bharali, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, badminton player Dipankar Bhattacharjee, and table tennis player Priyanuj Bhattacharya.
- Sarma announced the Sarusajai Sports Complex will be renamed the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, alongside State Sports Awards, job appointments, sports pensions, and cash rewards linked to recent National Games and Khelo India results.
- The chief minister reiterated schemes worth around Rs 3,000 crore for new sports complexes and stadiums, while coverage noted conflicting descriptions of the awards’ frequency and documented Special Recognition honours and Abhiruchi Sports Day public events.