Archive · 22 Dec 2025
SAI Approves Infrastructure Upgrades for Athlete Development
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has approved several big projects to improve sports facilities around the country.
They will build new training halls, upgrade shooting targets, and install new running tracks.
One special project is a new hockey field in Bengaluru that uses less water and is certified by the international hockey federation.
The sports minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, said these changes will help Indian athletes train better and win more medals in big competitions like the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.
The new facilities will include spaces for boxing, volleyball, badminton, and athletics.
SAI governing body approved infrastructure upgrades including a new hockey turf in Bengaluru and multipurpose halls in three centers.
Poligras Paris GT Zero hockey turf, certified by FIH, will be installed in SAI Bengaluru to reduce water usage and ensure consistent ball roll.
Three multipurpose halls will be constructed at SAI Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, SAI Patiala, and SAI Trivandrum for intensive training.
A 400m eight-lane synthetic athletics track will be built at SAI Jalpaiguri, and a new synthetic track will be laid at SAI Bhopal.
Electronic shooting targets at Karni Singh Shooting Range will be replaced with laser target systems.
- Who
- Sports Authority of India (SAI) governing body, chaired by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
- What
- Approval of infrastructure upgrade projects across the country
- When
- Monday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Various SAI centers including Bengaluru, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Patiala, Trivandrum, Jalpaiguri, and Bhopal
- Why
- To strengthen the Indian sports ecosystem and provide athletes with the best infrastructure for training and development
- Key Projects Approved
- Poligras Paris GT Zero hockey turf for SAI Bengaluru, multipurpose halls at SAI Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, SAI Patiala, and SAI Trivandrum, 400m eight-lane synthetic athletics track at SAI Jalpaiguri, new synthetic track at SAI Bhopal, laser target systems at Karni Singh Shooting Range
- Chaired By
- Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
- Hockey Turf Benefits
- FIH certified, reduces friction and watering needs, ensures consistent ball roll
- Multipurpose Halls
- Boxing training zone, strength and conditioning area, indoor spaces for volleyball and badminton
- Athletics Track
- 400m, eight-lane synthetic track at SAI Jalpaiguri
- Shooting Range Upgrade
- Replacement of electronic shooting targets with laser target systems at Karni Singh Shooting Range