New Delhi: All upcoming and upgraded sports facilities of the Sports Authority of India (SA) will be named after renowned athletes to honour their contribution in Indian sports.
For starters, the newly built air-conditioned wrestling hall and learners’ swimming pool at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Lucknow, the 100-bedded hostel in NCOE Bhopal, multipurpose hall and girls’ hostel in NCOE Sonepat and the new STC In Guwahati — which has a hostel, multipurpose hall and staff quarters — will be named after local star sportspersons.
Talking about the Union sports ministry’s decision, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju said that to build a sports culture in the country, it is important that sportspersons get the honour they deserve.
“Only then will the younger generations be enthused to take up sport as a career. The government is already providing all support to present and even past athletes to ensure that they have a life of comfort and dignity. Acknowledging their contribution to sports by naming sporting facilities after them is yet another endeavour of the Government to strengthen its commitment to sportspersons,” Rijiju said.
