Women Hockey Academy inaugurated

Gwalior, Mar 29 (UNI) The first- ever women's hockey academy of Madhya Pradesh will be inaugurated tomorrow.

State Sports Director Sanjay Choudhary said the Sports and Youth Welfare department was setting up the facility at an expenditure of nearly Rs 3 crore at the district sports complex here.

The district sports complex already has facilities for football, basketball, badminton and other sports.

The new academy will impart training to selected women hockey players from the state and the country between 15-18 years of age.

Around Rs 2.25 crore will be spent upon sports ground, while the rest will be spent upon hostel, administrative building, etc.

Mr Choudhary said experts will impart training to the candidates for three years and the women players will get opportunities to participate in national competitions from time to time.

He said the academy was being set with help from various sports associations and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Besides training, selected candidates will receive educational expenses, sports kit, monthly sports stipend, house and expenses for participating in competitions. The players will be provided nutritious food as per the standard fixed by the SAI.

The players will get training from a former senior women hockey player and two high-quality trainers. Besides, sports medicine, physiotherapy, modern fitness centre and library facilities will be provided.

The facility will select 25 players this year for training and the number shall be increased to 40 next year.

He added that a special selectors team will recommend candidates after selection procedure in next two months. The academy will select the candidates on the basis of these recommendations.

UNI XC-PS DH HT1757