THE GOVERNING BODY (GB) of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Monday approved a series of infrastructure upgradation projects across the country, including an eight-lane synthetic athletics track in West Bengal and a climate-neutral hockey turf at its Bengaluru centre.
The meeting was chaired by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. “The Indian sports ecosystem is now in its youth, and it is the need of the hour to strengthen it in every possible way so that it has a bright future. The decisions we are taking today are athlete-centric and aimed at ensuring that players have the best infrastructure that they need so that the medal counts that we have in mind for CWG and Olympics are met,” he said.
Among the key proposals cleared by the GB is the installation of the Poligras Paris GT Zero hockey turf at SAI Bengaluru, which functions as the primary training hub for both the Indian men’s and women’s senior and ‘A’ hockey teams.
The Poligras Paris GT Zero surface is certified by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and is designed to reduce friction while significantly lowering water consumption.
The GB also approved the replacement of existing electronic shooting targets with advanced laser target systems at the Karni Singh Shooting Range (KSSR), an international competition venue as well as a national training centre.
“In addition, the GB also approved the construction of three multipurpose halls at SAI NCOE (National Centre of Excellence) Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly SAI Aurangabad), SAI Patiala, and SAI Trivandrum to facilitate intensive training and comprehensive athlete development,” the Sports Ministry stated in a press release.
The facility at SAI NCOE Sambhajinagar will include a dedicated weather-proof boxing training zone, strength and conditioning facilities, and earmarked indoor spaces for volleyball and badminton. The GB also cleared the construction of a 400-metre, eight-lane synthetic athletics track at SAI Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, along with the laying of a new synthetic track at SAI Bhopal.
