Bengaluru will soon be called as Sports Hub of India – Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur

Union Minister for  Information &  Broadcasting and  Youth Affairs & Sports Shri  Anurag Singh Thakur  has said that  Bengaluru  will soon be called as Sports Hub of India with right weather conditions and  best sports infrastructure. The Minister hailed   the enthusiasm for sports and athletics  in the .  He appreciated the veteran athletes being proactive and initiating their own academies, passing on the knowledge, taking part in training or assessment camps, making  valuable  contribution to the country’s  new dominance in sports.

Sh Thakur  emphasized on registering on My Bharat Portal, taking up volunteer activity, utilizing platform to engage with community, posting good initiatives on social media and motivating others to come forward to take advantage of the My Bharat initiative. Minister urged the athletes  to post their inspiring stories on Social Media as part of My Bharat to influence youth across the country.

He also outlined the  Khelo India programme especially the recently held first Khelo India Para Games where  3000 athletes, coaches and support staff took part. The minister also  said that the  upcoming Khelo India Youth Games would   be held in Tamilnadu with participants from all over the country. Khelo India is  a scheme to identify talent , nurture them, support through Target Olympic Podium Scheme as they excel,  All these contributing to the concept of   developed India – Viksit Bharat.

The  Minister was speaking after  inaugurating  the newly constructed two Hostel Buildings of 330 Bedded & 300 Bedded and 400m Synthetic Athletics Track at the Sports Authority of India Regional Centre in Bengaluru today.

The 330 Bedded hostel with a project cost of Rs. 28.72 Crores is a Ground+5 facility with 110 rooms with attached toilet. Hostel rooms are designed for the athletes with all amenities for athletics, sports and recreation with suitable ambience.    The hostel for women has been funded by National Sports Development Fund to  which Coal India Limited contributed Rs 25 Crore. The state of the art facility augments the residential capacity for female athletes.

The 300 bed hostel for Men has been completed at a cost of Rs 26.77 crore under Khelo India Scheme.  The hostel, situated on an approximate one  acre site, stands tall at Ground + 4 floors, boasting modern amenities to cater to the diverse needs of its occupants.

Synthetic Athletic track with a  project cost of Rs. 13.86 Crores, funded under Khelo India  consists of 400m, 8 lane  and additional  two lanes straight with grass infield. The Synthetic track is with Full PUR and with IAAF certification for Class-1, Category-5. Apart from the 8 full lane and 2 lanes synthetic tracks, the project includes 500m Clay track & 100m sand track for high performance training. The track has unique features like timing gates technology with both Hardware & Software integrated beneath the surface of the Athletic track. It has 250 Lux High masts lighting with perimeter fencing for the Athletics training facility.

Inauguration of  the three  facilities  marks a crucial  moment for the SAI Centre with residential capacity going upto 1245 and new smart synthetic athletic track added to SAI Bengaluru.

Eminent Sports persons o  Ms Ashwing Nachappa, Sh S D Eshan and others graced the inaugural session.  As part of the My Bharat dialogue ,  Thakur addressed a gathering of 1100 which included youth associated with NYKS, officers of SAI,  Eminent sportspersons, medalists from Asian Games – Sh Manpreet Singh, Sh Avinash Sable, Ms Parul, Ms Priyanka Goswami, Ms Ancy Sojan and others.

Later, the  Minister felicitated Eminent Sports persons

and the Medalists of Asian, Para Asian Games. Minister reiterated the triumph of India in the Asian Games at China, with 107 medals in Asian Games and 111in Para Games. He appreciated the special success of Athletics in Asian Games. He also appreciated SAI Bengaluru for contributing to India’s success at Asian Games with 14 out of 29 medals in Athletics, Gold in Kabaddi Men, Gold in Hockey Men, Bronze in Hockey Women, Bronze in Women’s Doubles Table Tennis and significant contribution in Para Athletics.

SAI Regional Centre Bengaluru

The  Minister stayed in the accommodation at SAI Bengaluru and took a tour of facilities and ongoing training of National Coaching Camp (NCC), National Centre of Excellence (NCOE).  Shri Thakur also  interacted with the Athletes of NCC,  NCOE, Coaches, Sports Scientists and Supporting Staff. The Minister also visited dining arena and dined with the athletes.