SAI freezes admissions at regional academies to fit in Khelo India
The Sports Authority of India has put a freeze on admissions in its regional centres in order to promote similar centres proposed under Khelo India. The move could jeopardise training and education of more than 1,700 upcoming sportspersons across the country.
A circular was issued by SAI’s Assistant Director (Ops) on Feb. 15, 2018, discontinuing admissions under SAI Training Centres (STC) scheme. It caused panic in centres across the country as they were expecting the trainees, on vacation, to return and join the programme. The circular was modified on May 14, 2018 to allow admissions in centres except those at regional headquarters.
SAI Director General Neelam Kapur said Khelo India is a new programme and is “top priority of the government.” She added: “As we want to incorporate athletes selected under Khelo India into various STC schemes, the admisits sions are on temporary hold.”
Khelo India has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) from existing or yet to be established academies, including those from SAI, run by public or private notfor-profit organisations all over the country to fulfil its target of producing 1,000 sportspersons every year under the Khelo India Talent Search and Development.
These academies will be funded and equipped by Khelo India. A brainchild of the Ministry of Sports, Khelo India plans to support academies in 12 sports – archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, hockey, shooting, swimming, weightlifting. rowing, fencing, wrestling and table tennis.
Only those academies that aim to produce international standard sportspersons can apply under the scheme, according to the EOI document. The document does not specify how many such academies would be established.
SAI has frozen admissions in 12 regional centres. Though things will go on as usual at other centres, discontinuation of intake at regional centres will impact trainees, some of whom are on the verge of breaking into international circuit.
Sources in SAI said a counter proposal earmarking quota of places under the STC scheme at the regional centres for those selected under Khelo India scheme has been rejected.
The Khelo India academy accreditation process is still in nascent stage. The application process got over on June 11.
“The process of talent identification is over and age verification is being done. Once it’s complete, a list will be prepared. Since some athletes will have preferences, they might want to study at a particular centre, we plan to accommodate them. After the final list, we’ll start admission. The whole process shouldn’t take more than a month,” said Kapur. The SAI is also coordinating with Navodaya Vidyalaya to accommodate some Khelo India athletes.
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