SAI for scientific support to athletes:SAI DG

Patiala, May 14 (UNI) With an eye on the next Commonwealth Games to be held in India in 2010, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is all set to promote scientific support for the national athletes in order to help them improve their performance at the international level.

''Shortage of methodical support available to the national athletes is a major shortcoming,'' SAI Director General (DG) Ratan P Watal said today while talking to UNI.

Nutrition and hydration was an important aspect of training for the international competitions and SAI was taking it up on priority basis, he said . He said national players, attending the preparatory camps, would be provided with not just food , but the best nutrition that would enable them to improve their performance.

He said to provide healthy food SAI has already spending sufficient funds for the players at various centers and sub-centers of the authority. ''However, there is a need to pay more attention on nutrition and hydration of the players, who worked hard in the fields'', he added.

Mr Watal said SAI had taken up this matter with the National Institute of Nutrition to prepare a detailed report on nutrition and hydration needed for players. He said a special committee comprising of scientists of the National Institute of Nutrition, SAI and a scientific voluntary organisation had been constituted to prepare a report on the nutrition and hydration level required by a player depending on the kind of sport.

Mr Watal said there was a shortage of sports scientists in the country and as on now some of the posts of sports scientists in SAI were also lying vacant. He said even after filling these posts there will be a gap in the player-scientist ratio.

To fill this gap SAI had recently authorised its regional heads to arrange for scientific backing through outsourcing, he said. He revealed that sports scientists would be attached to the training camps on contractual basis as and when need.

UNI XC-HS DH RN1409