From football fields to steel furnaces: Neiphiu Rio’s Vijayanagar visit focuses on growth

DIMAPUR — The high-level delegation from Nagaland, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, continued its official visit to Vijayanagar in Karnataka on Friday, engaging in a series of sporting, industrial, and strategic meetings facilitated by the JSW Group.

A press release received here informed that the day began with a friendly football match at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) football ground, where the Nagaland U-20 team delivered a dominant performance, defeating the BFC Young Blues Elite Team 4–0.

Following the match, the delegation toured the Inspire Institute of Sport, India’s first privately-funded high-performance training centre for elite athletes. The team observed live training sessions, interacted with athletes and coaches, and explored the Olympic-grade infrastructure and integrated sports science support systems at the facility.

Related: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio leads delegation to JSW for industrial, sports, and cultural ties

The chief minister’s itinerary also included visits to key JSW establishments such as the BPO, Safety Experience Centre, Sakhi, Bunkai, and OPJC—each highlighting JSW’s focus on innovation, safety, and community development.

Another highlight was the visit to the Vijayanagar Steel Plant, where the delegation toured the Blast Furnace 4 and Hot Strip Mill 2 (HSM 2) to gain insights into the plant’s operations. At the JSW Experience Centre, Rio was felicitated by JSW Steel President PK Murugan in the presence of senior officials.

Throughout the day, the chief minister held several high-level meetings with JSW Group leadership to explore collaborative opportunities between the state and the industrial group. Discussions centred on partnerships in sports development, youth skill-building, industrial investment, cultural exchange, and creative residencies.