Odishatv Bureau

Koraput: Sports minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday inaugurated the Sports Training Centre for tribal youths at HAL Sunabeda here.

"We will encourage sports in tribal areas and HAL support is welcome," Singh said after inaugurating the facility.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Sunabeda, has established a full-fledge Sports Training Centre recently with the technical support from Sports Authority of India (SAI).

At present the academy accommodates about 40 trainees. HAL is also planning two football fields in the vicinity.

The sports academy is being run to identify and nurture tribal and local sports talent in archery and football. The facilities provided include free of cost accommodation, boarding, medical care, sports kits and equipments, study material and gymnasium, HAL sources said.

The academy building, hostel and facilities are totally funded by HAL and trainees are picked up in the age group of 13-15.

At present the academy accommodates about 40 trainees.

HAL is also planning two football fields in the vicinity.

R K Mathur, Secretary, Defence Production, Dr R.K.Tyagi, Chairman, HAL, Air Marshal, S Sukumar, DCAS, IAF, S.Subrahmanyan, HALs, MD (MiG Complex), Aniruddh Kumar, HAL Executive Director (Koraput Division) and SAI officials were present on the occasion.

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