Ludhiana Speed Academy dying unnatural death

Ludhiana, May 20: The result-oriented Speed Fund Academy (SFA) of the Punjab Government is dying an unnatural death with the decision of the Punjab Sports Department to hand over the SFA sports hostel here to the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The future of boys and girls selected for the SFA in the current academic year will be virtually ruined if the the decision is not reversed immediately. With a number of outstanding results to its credit, the Academy is considered as the centre of sports excellence in Punjab.

It needs immediate intervention of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to save this centre of excellences.

SFA was established in 1997-98 in the sports hostel building here constructed at a cost of Rs 70 lakh. The central government sanctioned Rs 45 lakh and the Punjab Government Rs 25 lakh for this venture.

Amongst the well known sportspersons produced by the Speed Academy are, weightlifter Vicky Batta, 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medalist. Tennis player Sarbarinder Singh, who represented India in the Asian School Games in Indonesia and secured Bronze medal. He has played in the World Championship in Edminton and Islamabad.

Long jumper Amritpal Singh, who made history in 2004 by smashing the 30-year-old record of T C Yohanan.

Harpreet Singh, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, Iqbal Singh and Depinder Singh represented India in the 25th Senior and 17th Junior Asian Cycling Championship held in Ludhiana in 2005.

The Academy provides specialised training in athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, tennis and table tennis.

During Nationals and International sports competitions, the Academy hostel is used to provide accommodation to participants and officials.

On the contrary, the Chandigarh Administration is unhappy with the results of the Sports Training Centre (STC) in Sector 18 run by SAI.

Disgusted with the achievements of girls hockey results, the Administration, which has spent Rs 14 lakh on maintenance of the SAI hostel in Sector 18, got the hostel vacated.

The administration is now establishing its hockey academy for girls on the pattern of hockey and football academies being run by the Chandigarh Administration.

UNI