Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur today inaugurated two state-of-the-art hostels and synthetic athletics track at the Sports Authority of India Regional Centre here.
With the residential capacity of the SAI Centre going up to 1245 beds, the Minister said it will not be long before Bengaluru is called the Sports Hub of India. He pointed out that it has the right climate through the year, the best sports infrastructure and a number for former athletes contributing to the environment.
The 330-bedded hostel for women was built at a cost of Rs. 28.72 crore, with Coal India Limited contributing Rs 25 crore through the National Sports Development Fund. It is a six-storyed facility with 110 rooms with attached bath. It has been designed with all amenities with a suitable ambience.
The 300-bedded hostel for men has been completed at a cost of Rs 26.77 crore under the Khelo India Scheme. The hostel, situated on an approximate one acre site, stands tall with five floors, boasting modern amenities to cater to the diverse needs of its occupants.
The synthetic track, laid at a project cost of Rs. 13.86 crores, is funded under the Khelo India Scheme. It has 8 400m lanes and an additional two lanes straight with grass infield. It has a Class-1, Category-5 World Athletics certification. The track has unique features like timing gates technology with both hardware and software integrated beneath the surface.
The project includes 500m Clay track and a 100m sand track for high performance training. It also has 250 Lux high masts lighting with perimeter fencing.
Asian Games medallists, hockey star Manpreet Singh and athletes Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary, Priyanka Goswami and Ancy Sojan as well as former India athletes, Ashwini Nachappa and SD Eshan were among those who attended. The Minister also felicitated eminent sportspersons and medallists of the 2022 Asian Games and the Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou xthis year.
Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, who stayed in SAI Bengaluru, took a tour of facilities and interacted with athletes in National Coaching Camps and other who are training in the National Centre of Excellence, coaches, sports scientists and support staff. He dined with the athletes, engaging them in informal conversation.
Tapas Bhattacharya's Report
