Sports academy opens in Ahmedabad

It is difficult to find a dedicated multi-sport facility in the heart of the city with rapid construction going on all around. Lack of sporting infrastructure is believed to be the reason behind India not producing enough quality athletes. With an aim to provide more medal winning prospects, the Sheth CN Sports Academy was inaugurated on Thursday morning.

The exclusive sports facility for CN students, which was inaugurated by former billiards world champion Geet Sethi has two basketball courts, five cricket practice pitches and a ground, volleyball court, three table tennis tables, handball and hockey grounds.

"This facility will give much-needed impetus to sports," said Sethi who even tried his hand in the TT arena. While CN Vidhyalay has a sprawling campus, it is due to the efforts of the staff that a large part of unused campus has been converted into playing fields for children. Kartikeya Sarabhai, renowned environmentalist and trustee of Sheth Sarabhai Maganbhai Trust fund, said, "It is necessary that the grounds and facilities are put to good use and having a sports academy will ensure its optimum use."

The academy, besides providing infrastructure, will also look after the fitness of the students. "We have seven coaches who are certified by National Institute of Sports (NIS). Apart from this, our nutritionist will be providing regular diet charts which the students will have to follow keeping parents in the loop," said Sumer Singh, cricket coach and the co-coordinator at the academy.

While the students have started registering for cricket and table tennis coaching, former volleyball state player and referee hopes that students will take up other sports too. "It will be wonderful to see this academy bustling with young kids," he added.