India to Establish Two National Centres of Excellence(NCOEs) for Female Athletes

By
Teja Devathoti
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4
2036 Olympics

In a significant move to boost women’s sports in India, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, announced the establishment of two National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), exclusively for women. The announcement was made on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

NCOEs to Promote Gender Equality

The NCOEs cover 23 focused and priority disciplines where Indian athletes have a chance to win medals in global competitions like the Asian Games and the Olympics. These centres aim to provide specialized training to promising athletes by offering state-of-the-art infrastructure, playing facilities, sports science backup, individualized diet prescribed by trained nutritionists, and overall supervision under the best coaches, qualified support staff, and High-Performance Directors.

Addressing the lack of trainers, coaches, and infrastructure at the state level, Thakur stated, “Sports is a state subject but still the Central government is keen to look at the upliftment of sports in the country. We have to spend a lot of money on infrastructure and coaches. We are collaborating with state governments and asked them to identify three key sports so that we have a roadmap and information on which state will promote hockey, boxing, athletics etc.”.

He further added, “I have already started consolidating our NCOEs and in association with the national sports federations, will place greater emphasis on producing good coaches.” This initiative is a part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance the country’s performance in international sports events and promote sports culture among the youth.

The establishment of these centres marks a significant step towards gender equality in sports, providing female athletes with the necessary resources and opportunities to excel in their respective disciplines. It also underscores the government’s commitment to nurturing sporting talent and promoting a culture of sports in the country.

The establishment of the two National Centres of Excellence for women is a commendable initiative by the Indian government. It not only provides a platform for female athletes to hone their skills but also sends a strong message about the importance of women’s participation in sports. As these centres begin their operations, they carry the hopes and aspirations of countless young female athletes who dream of bringing glory to the nation.

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