Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Visits NSNIS Patiala and Meets Olympic Athletes

Patiala (Punjab) [India], June 29: The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, visited the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala on Saturday. He met with Olympic-bound athletes, including weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, javelin thrower Annu Rani, and shot putter Abha Khatua, to inspect the progress of new infrastructure.

Dr. Mandaviya expressed his satisfaction with the support provided to the athletes in their preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Mirabai Chanu highlighted the immense support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, particularly in securing the services of world-renowned sports scientist Dr. Aaron Horschig from the USA. Annu Rani spoke about the benefits of extended training periods at European bases.

Dr. Mandaviya also interacted with other athletes and coaches at the National Centre of Excellence, seeking suggestions on reducing dropout rates from competitive sports. He emphasized the government’s commitment to identifying and nurturing grassroots talent, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the overall development of sports.

The Sports Minister reviewed the facilities at NSNIS, including the playfields, sports science facilities, and new infrastructure projects. He was pleased with the progress of the High-Performance Centre for Sports Science and the kitchen and dining facilities. Dr. Mandaviya praised NSNIS as a critical hub for producing quality coaches and providing top-notch training facilities.

After his visit to Patiala, Dr. Mandaviya traveled to Panchkula to unveil the Athletics Federation of India’s new logo at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships held at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium.