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Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to introduce annual awards in the name of eminent sports personalities of state from this year.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, SAI Jharkhand in-charge S. K. Verma said the awards would be instituted in memory of legendary players who were no more.
“It’s a way to pay respect to the glorious sporting heroes of our state and also encourage our players to excel in sport,” said Verma, but added that the modalities, such as the amount of cash, type of trophies etc, were yet to be worked out.
SAI has also decided to reopen two government training centres _ a football academy at Gumla and hockey academy in Bariatu this year.
“The Gumla football academy will be relocated to Ranchi where we will re-launch it as a football training centre for boys. While at the Bariatu one, we will train both boys and girls,” Verma said.
SAI-Ranchi caters to five disciplines — hockey, football, volleyball, archery and athletics — where players are given facilities of boarding and training. SAI will hold a two-day selection trial on March 22 and 23 to induct new players to its centre.
Verma said a five-member committee, comprising an international player, a state government official, a federation representative and local SAI members, to select talent in each discipline.
“SAI centres across the country works to provide the best training and grooming facilities to budding sports persons free of cost. This is yet another initiative in that direction,” he said.
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