Mandaviya inaugurates facilities at SAI Gandhinagar centre; calls PM 'param mitra' of para-athletes

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated several integrated infrastructure facilities at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday inaugurated several integrated infrastructure facilities at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar.

The newly inaugurated facilities include a para athlete hostel, centralised dining hall, strength and conditioning hall, multipurpose training hall and a meditation park, said a PIB release.

In his address at the inaugural ceremony held at the SAI campus, Mandaviya said the country is building world-class sporting ecosystem focused on scientific training, modern infrastructure and athlete-centric development.

Addressing athletes, coaches and officials at the event, Mandaviya said the country's sports ecosystem is undergoing a transformational shift under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

''New India is building a sporting ecosystem where every athlete gets the opportunity to dream big and win for the nation. The government is focusing on inclusive sporting infrastructure and athlete welfare, particularly for para-athletes,'' he said.

''PM Narendra Modi is truly the 'Param Mitra' of our para-athletes. Under his leadership, India has not only expanded sports infrastructure across the country, but has also ensured dignity, accessibility, recognition and equal opportunities for every para-athlete,'' Mandaviya added.

Mandaviya said India's recent performances at international sporting events reflected the strengthening of its sports ecosystem, citing the country's 111 medals at the Asian Para Games and a record 29 medals at the 2024 Paralympics.

The minister said the SAI NCoE Gandhinagar, which has been designated as a nodal centre for para sports, is emerging as one of India's leading high-performance centres for para-athlete development.

The centre currently supports six para sports disciplines - para athletics, para badminton, para table tennis, para powerlifting, para swimming and para fencing, besides training programmes in handball, kabaddi and kho-kho.

Mandaviya also interacted with athletes attending national coaching camps at the centre for kabaddi, para sports, volleyball and basketball.

He said exposure to elite-level training environments and scientific support systems would strengthen India's medal prospects in future international competitions, including the Olympics and Paralympics.

''Facilities such as the Para Athlete Hostel, Strength and Conditioning Hall and Centralized Dining Hall are not merely buildings; they are investments in India's future champions,'' he said.

According to officials, the multipurpose training hall will mainly be used for kabaddi training and will support high-intensity practice sessions, match simulation and tactical preparation throughout the year.

The strength and conditioning hall has been designed to improve athlete performance, endurance, recovery and injury prevention through scientific training methods.

Mandaviya said the para athlete hostel and centralised dining hall had been developed with financial support from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, reflecting a coordinated government approach towards inclusive sports development.

Emphasising holistic athlete development, the minister said, ''Sporting excellence depends not only on physical preparation, but also on nutrition, mental wellbeing, discipline and recovery.''