Government to set up 75 sports schools

With an aim to tap sporting talents at young age, the government is planning to set up 75 sports schools across the country. The budget for the project is around Rs 2,200 crore.

As per the plan, during the pilot stage, there will be one or two sports schools in each State and Union Territory and the scheme will be implemented over a period of three years.

About 35 sports schools will be started in the first year, followed by 20 sports schools each in the second and third year respectively, according to the concept note. The sports school should provide top class sporting facilities in 4-5 disciplines in boxing, wrestling, athletics, gymnastics, taekwondo, swimming, table tennis, badminton, hockey, football, archery, tennis, shooting, basketball and volleyball.

The government will spend Rs 10 crore in total for two sports disciplines allotted to the school concerned, a lump sum amount of Rs 1.5 lakh per annum will be given to each selected student and a reimbursement of group insurance premium of Rs 2,000 per student per annum.