Minister Khadse lauds Bengaluru SAI centre

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, recently concluded a two-day visit to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus in Bengaluru, aimed at gaining firsthand insight into grassroots-level implementation of government sports initiatives.

During her visit, Khadse directly engaged with athletes, coaches, administrators, and experts integral to India’s growing sports ecosystem. She participated in a special dinner hosted for elite athletes, including Olympians, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees, and members of the Senior Women’s Hockey, Athletics, and Para-Athletics teams.

Athletes shared their personal journeys, highlighting the challenges and triumphs that shape their pursuit of excellence. Khadse praised the pivotal role played by centres like the Netaji Subhas Southern Centre in nurturing world-class talent.

“Such institutions are laying the foundation for India’s bright future in global sports,” she stated, applauding the athletes’ dedication and discipline. A key highlight of the visit was the inauguration of a newly constructed Indoor Kabaddi Hall—an important infrastructural upgrade intended to provide athletes with modern training facilities and reinforce support for traditional Indian sports.

She also held in-depth discussions with both foreign and Indian coaches, including Dragan (Volleyball), Ronald (Racewalking), Claudio (Running), Sahana Kumari (High Jump), Ashwini Akkunji (Sprints), and Harish (High Performance).

These conversations focused on integrating science-backed, athlete-centric training methodologies to elevate Indian sporting performance on the global stage.