Sports Ministry introduces incentives for 500 private sports academics; Check details here

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has introduced an incentivization to extend monetary support to 500 private academics through the Khelo India Scheme over the next four years -- starting the financial year 2020-21.

In this, the private academics shall be graded into various categories based on the quality and achievement of the players trained by the academy, level of coaches available, quality of the field, and availability of sports science facilities and staff.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju informed that 14 priority disciplines identified for excellence in the 2028 Olympics will be eligible for receiving support in the first phase.

"It is important for the government to extend support to these institutions so that sporting talent can be groomed even in the most remote areas of the country. There are a lot of small academies in various parts of the country that are doing very good work in identifying and training athletes. This move aims to encourage all academics, especially the private academies to continue improving the level of infrastructure, resources, and sports science support so that athletes can get the best in class training," Rijiju said.

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Under the scheme, SAI and NSFs will be working together. SAI will also hold discussions with NSFs and implement the categorization and gradation of the academies.

The number of academies to be funded and the quantum of funding under each discipline will be determined by an objective evaluation of the need for investment and each NSF's capabilities to leverage the incentivization model and promote excellence in the Olympics in their respective discipline.

There will be a special focus on developing sports science facilities at all the academies to improve the overall quality of training.

National Badminton Coach Pullela Gopichand thanked the Government and the SAI for this initiative, saying,"I think this is a big initiative for sports in the country and this will benefit all sections of sportspersons and the sports ecosystem immensely. This is a huge step forward and I would like to congratulate the Government and the Sports Authority of India for the wonderful initiative."

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