Inauguration of High Performance Centre to Boost India's Sports Ecosystem

Foundation Stone Laid for New High Performance Centre

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 31: The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, held a virtual ceremony on Wednesday to inaugurate the Foundation Stone Laying for a cutting-edge High Performance Centre (HPC) at the Sports Authority of India's Netaji Subhas Southern Centre (NSSC) in Bengaluru.

This ambitious HPC project, with an estimated budget of Rs 75 crore, will receive Rs 60 crore in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The initiative aims to enhance India's elite athlete training framework by offering comprehensive, world-class sports science and support services all in one location, as stated in a release from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Upon completion, the HPC will feature state-of-the-art facilities for sports medicine, strength training, rehabilitation, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, nutrition, performance analysis, and hydrotherapy, facilitating a holistic and scientifically-informed approach to elite athlete preparation.

During his address, Mandaviya underscored that this Centre signifies India's transition from merely participating in sports to aiming for podium finishes, establishing the nation as a high-performance sporting powerhouse. He remarked that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the mantra of 'reform, perform, and transform' is revolutionizing India's sports landscape.

"This High Performance Centre will ensure that our athletes' training and recovery processes are driven by scientific principles and technology, empowering them to compete and succeed on the global stage," the Minister stated.

Mandaviya praised HAL for its generous CSR investment, calling the collaboration a prime example of public sector enterprises contributing to national development through sports. He noted, "An organization that supports national defense is now also fostering India's sporting excellence."

The Minister also acknowledged the legacy of SAI NSSC Bengaluru as a leading sports hub in the country, which continues to facilitate National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), national coaching camps, and elite athlete training programs across various sports.

The HPC is anticipated to play a crucial role in preparing India for significant international sporting events and aligns with the nation's long-term goal of becoming a global sports leader, including aspirations to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

The event began with a welcome address from Sh. Vishnu Kant Tiwari, Secretary of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). D. K. Sunil, Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), also spoke, expressing pride in contributing to India's journey toward becoming a global sports powerhouse.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports) and Director General of SAI. The virtual event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, SAI, and HAL, along with distinguished athletes, coaches, and sports science professionals.