Union Minister Raksha Nikhil Khadse Reviews Sports Development in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Port Blair: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center at Shri Vijay Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to evaluate local sports facilities and discuss initiatives for further development in the region.

The visit aimed to assess the progress in the local sports sector and explore opportunities to enhance facilities and training for young athletes. Minister Khadse reviewed the sports complex and training center, engaged with athletes, and held discussions about innovations in sports and future development plans.

Highlighting the region’s potential, she emphasized the role of government schemes in advancing sports and inspired athletes to aim high, particularly with India’s anticipated participation in the 2036 Olympics.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to two major SAI centers offering training in athletics, cycling, football, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, and weightlifting. These facilities currently support over 150 athletes. Minister Khadse expressed the government’s commitment to providing world-class infrastructure and resources to nurture talent in the archipelago.

Debashmita Bal, Assistant Director of SAI, along with coaches and young athletes, joined the Minister during the visit. The discussions highlighted the progress achieved and charted out steps to strengthen the region’s contributions to India’s sporting excellence.