An aerial view of the IG Stadium in Kohima, where the State Sports Academy is located. (Photo Courtesy: GIS Nagaland)
Kohima, September 16 (MExN): Nagaland State Sports Academy at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima, named as one of the first eight Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE), will be upgraded with a total budget of Rs.11.5cr in four years, an official release said.
The project is under the Sports Authority of India's flagship talent identification and nurturing programme, Khelo India
The support will be in the form of infrastructure upgradation, setting up of sports science centre and also soft component in the form of quality coaches and sports science human resources like physiotherapists, strength and conditioning expert etc, the release said.
High quality equipments will also be provided to the players and academy will also have High Performance Manager to ensure quality sports science input and performance management, added the release issued via PIB Kohima.
The Sports Ministry is upgrading existing sporting infrastructure in each state and Union Territories, in partnership with the state and UT, and creating KISCEs with the aim to create a robust sporting ecosystem in the entire country, it further highlighted.
Each KISCE will be extended sports-specific support in 14 Olympic sports, of which one state or UT will be given support for a maximum of 3 sports. I
In the first leg, 8 KISCEs have been identified, including the one in Kohima in Nagaland. The other KISCEs will be set up in Mizoram, Telengana, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Odhisha, Karnataka and Kerala.
Speaking about the decision to set up the KISCEs, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju said, "These Khelo India State Center of Excellence is yet another step towards building a robust sports ecosystem on one hand and India's pursuit of excellence in Olympics, on the other.”
“I am confident this step will help to further India's effort of becoming one of the top 10 countries in the Olympics in 2028," he added.
As a joint partnership, the SAI will provide financial support in various avenues like sports science back-up, engagement of coaches and support staff, procurement of sports equipment, among other things.
The concerned State/UT will be responsible for lodging, boarding, regular maintenance, infrastructure upgradation and overall management of the centre.
“Wherever required, SAI will provide technical expertise and assistance, while putting in place a regular monitoring mechanism, to ensure that athletes are trained at par with international standards,” the release added.
