SAI to set up special centres at Thiruvananthapuram

Patiala: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to set up an `Academy for Athletics` at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala with three special centres for track and field events, where 10 to 12 athletes each of these events, would be provided intensive training.

Regional Director of Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NS NIS) S S Roy said in a release here today that the centre would come under the Indian Elite Athlete Excellence Programme of Union government. Roy said that in this connection, trials would be held on August 31 here at NS NIS for selection of Middle and Long Distance Runners (3000 m, 5000 m, 10,000 m), in the age group of 16 to 23 years, for admission to this Academy. The athletes willing to participate, in these trials, will have to report in the Athletics arena of the Institute, at 6.30 am on said date. The selected athletes would be provided boarding and lodging facilities and also suitable incentives, he said. The performance of these athletes selected across India, through various SAI Regional Centres, would be further evaluated, in their respective categories, at SAI Central Centre, Bhopal, he said. Thereafter, 10 to 12 athletes of these events will be admitted to the Athletics Academy, at Thiruvananthpuram, for professional, training, guidance, and participation opportunities in India and abroad, he said.