Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: Kalinga Stadium is in line for an athletic academy to be set up by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The first move in this direction was made yesterday with SAI director-general Injeti Srinivas visiting the stadium to inspect its existing infrastructure and take note of facilities required for setting up an academy.
Srinivas made the trip in response to a state government proposal urging SAI to set up the academy.
"The stadium's existing infrastructure is good and SAI will undertake further modifications if required. After having a look at the facilities, we are planning to come up with a permanent athletics academy here. Athletes from the state are doing well in the state and outside. The academy will be useful for them," said Srinivas.
The SAI would provide all technical support, including coaches, for the academy. The onus of scouting talents for the academy will be on the state sports and youth services department.
At present, SAI manages two academies for athletics at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
While the academy at Bhopal is meant for medium and long distance runners, the one at Thiruvananthapuram trains athletes for sprint and jumping events. These institutions provide training for sub-junior, junior and senior athletes selected from across the country under the guidance of experts, including foreign coaches.
The Kalinga Stadium, the biggest sports facility here, is now a full-fledged sports complex. The stadium has an eight-lane synthetic athletic track for national and international sprint events. The stadium is now hosting a 20-day east zone junior athletic camp that began on August 15.
Reacting to the SAI move, sprinter Amiya Kumar Mallick said the proposed academy would be of great help for athletes provided the authorities equip it with proper infrastructure and support staff.
"The authorities must ensure that the talents are under the care of proper coaches and support staff. Athletes of the state would be happy if the academy is set up in Bhubaneswar," he said.
While welcoming the promise of an academy, a number of athletes have demanded laying of new synthetic tracks at the stadium. The existing tracks were laid 15 years ago.
"Synthetic tracks at the stadium have become old and it's time they are changed to avoid injuries to athletes. It is in such bad shape that an accident can mar their careers," said a sprinter on condition of anonymity.
The state government has also asked the SAI to set up a regional centre at the stadium under the proposed hockey academy.
The hockey stadium at the Kalinga Sports Complex has hosted Hockey India League matches besides those of Champions Trophy in December last year. The stadium built at an estimated cost of Rs 19.94 crore in July 2013 has a seating capacity of 6,000.
Srinivas also visited the water sports centre at Jagatpur in Cuttack and said that a 100-bed hostel would be constructed for sportspersons taking part in rowing, canoeing and kayaking. "It will also have a state-of-the-art sports science centre. SAI would provide new coaches, equipment and physios and other support staff to the centre," he said.
