The Tamil Nadu government, led by chief minister MK Stalin, is aiming to be a global sporting hub and keeping this ambition in mind, his son, Udayanidhi, the state’s minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, is keen to ensure the state hosts numerous big-ticket sporting activities.

Last year, Stalin Sr had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports about Chennai’s interest in hosting the 2024 Asian Beach Games. Earlier this year, Chennai successfully hosted the squash World Cup (June 13-17) followed by the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad (July 28 to August 10) with both projects being keenly supervised by the chief minister and executed under the guidance of his son. Similarly, the seventh edition of the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) hockey tournament is the brainchild of Stalin Jr.