Pune: Sports Science Center To Come Up At Balewadi For Providing Advanced Facilities For Athlete Development Under ‘Mission Lakshyavedh’
Pune, 20th December 2023: Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Sanjay Bansode has unveiled ‘Mission Lakshyavedh,’ an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing the performance of athletes at the international level. The Cabinet has granted approval to the proposed plan by the Sports Department, marking a significant step towards fostering sports excellence in the state.
Minister Bansode outlined the strategic approach of ‘Mission Lakshyavedh,’ which focuses on elevating the performance standards of athletes across various sports disciplines. National Sports Competitions, Khelo India, and International Olympic Sports Competitions have been identified as key arenas for athletes to target, forming the foundation of the mission’s plan.
Under the first phase, 12 sports have been designated for intensive focus, including athletics, badminton, boxing, weightlifting, hockey, wrestling, archery, shooting, rowing, sailing, lawn tennis, and table tennis. High-performance centers catering to these sports will be established at various locations across the state.
The implementation of ‘Mission Lakshyavedh’ will witness the conversion of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services into the Sports Authority of Maharashtra, ensuring effective coordination of the ambitious plan.
In addition to the high-performance centers, 37 sports excellence centers will be set up at the divisional level, with an additional 138 sports talent development centers at the district level. An allocation of 10 percent of funds from the district development plan will be reserved for sports development initiatives.
The Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune is set to house a state-of-the-art Sports Science Center, providing advanced facilities for athlete development. Furthermore, counseling centers will be established at both divisional and district levels to guide players on career opportunities within the realm of sports.
To facilitate the comprehensive implementation of ‘Mission Lakshyavedh,’ a budget of Rs 160 crores has been earmarked, with approximately Rs 55 crores dedicated to district-level facilities, Rs 55 crores to the divisional level, and Rs 50 crores at the state level. The initiative aims to provide up-to-date sports training to a total of 3,740 athletes at the district level, 740 at the divisional level, and 240 at the state level.
