Intro
The indoor box cricket ground at Srinagar Bal Bhavan was inaugurated to ease players’ challenges during Belagavi’s long rainy season
BELAGAVI
The state’s first indoor box cricket ground was inaugurated at Bal Bhavan in Belagavi, bringing new hope to young cricket talents from government schools. The modern indoor facility will offer free cricket training to selected government school children and differently abled students, helping them develop skills throughout the year without interruption from rain.
The indoor box cricket ground at Srinagar Bal Bhavan was inaugurated by District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, MLA Asif Seth, and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde. The project was developed to address the difficulty faced by players during Belagavi’s long rainy season, which lasts nearly six to seven months every year.
The ground was constructed with a total grant of ₹40 lakh, including ₹20 lakh from the Bal Bhavan Society and ₹20 lakh from Belagavi North MLA Asif Seth. The stadium is meant exclusively for children below 18 years of age. It can train 32 children at a time in two-hour sessions, allowing up to 128 players to practice daily in four sessions.
Under this initiative, 10 government school students from classes seven and eight and five differently abled children will receive free training. Facilities such as food, accommodation, and basic amenities will also be provided. Training and management responsibilities have been assigned to Ananda Cricket Academy, and the selection process will be completed by February 10.
The stadium includes four pitches, practice nets, a convertible tournament pitch, dressing rooms, learning rooms, toilets, lighting with LED floodlights, and covered roofing. Leaders said the project will help identify hidden talent and prepare young players for district, state, and national-level competitions.