Jumping academy inaugurated in Pune

Pune, May 1 (UNI) The first-ever jumping academy, established at the behest of the Pune International Marathon Trust (PIMT) in association with the Pune District Amateur Athletic Association (PDAAA), was inaugurated at the PIMT complex here today.

The inauguration of the academy, incidentally, coincided with the birthday of city MP and PIMT chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) school board chairman Sudhir Janjot, speaking on the occasion, informed that the trainees at the academy had been selected from civic schools.

The academy has the most modern facilities. There are two pits for long jump and two for high jump with adequate foam cushions.

Initially, 15 boys and 30 girls will be put through their paces by expert coaches like Ram Bhagwat, former Olympian Balkrishna Akotkar and Suresh Gujrati. They will be assisted by Chhatrapati awardees Gurbans Kaur, Snehal Khaire, Bhagyashri Bille, Sudhanshu Khaire and Prasad Vidwans.

A total of 80 under-14 athletes (30 boys and 50 girls) were short listed from over 500 after witnessing their performance in the rural sports. The other 15 boys and 20 girls will start their year-round training and coaching at the other venue of Baburao Sanas complex from June 1. The Baburao Sanas complex too has similar facilities.

'Catch them young and make them champions' is the slogan, coined by PIMT general secretary Pralhad Sawant, which will guide the academy.

The idea of creating a separate academy for jumping events took shape after watching the performance of athletes at the National School Games and junior and sub-junior national athletic championships where Maharashtra athletes excelled despite lacking in facilities, Mr Sawant informed.

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