Sports Minister Mandaviya Inaugurates Para Athlete Centre At SAI Gandhinagar, Hails PM Param Mitra

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday opened new sports facilities at the Sports Authority of India National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar. The upgrade includes a para athlete hostel, centralised dining hall, strength and conditioning hall, multipurpose training hall and a meditation park, according to a PIB release.

Mandaviya said India is building a world-class sports system based on scientific training, modern infrastructure and athlete-focused support. He told athletes, coaches and officials that the sports system is changing fast under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with special focus on inclusive facilities and welfare for para-athletes.

The minister said, "New India is building a sporting ecosystem where every athlete gets the opportunity to dream big and win for the nation. The government is focusing on inclusive sporting infrastructure and athlete welfare, particularly for para-athletes." He called PM Narendra Modi the "Param Mitra" of para-athletes.

Mandaviya said India has widened sports infrastructure and also ensured dignity, access, respect and equal chances for para-athletes. He linked this to recent results, noting 111 medals at the Asian Para Games and a record 29 medals at the 2024 Paralympics, which he said show a stronger sports structure.

The minister said SAI NCoE Gandhinagar, marked as a nodal centre for para sports, is now one of India’s leading high-performance bases for para-athlete growth. The centre backs six para sports and also runs training for three other team sports through the year.

The supported sports are shown below:

Mandaviya met athletes at national coaching camps for kabaddi, para sports, volleyball and basketball. He said access to elite training settings and scientific back-up will help raise India’s medal hopes at future Olympics and Paralympics, as athletes gain better skills and match experience.

He said facilities such as the Para Athlete Hostel, Strength and Conditioning Hall and Centralized Dining Hall are "investments in India's future champions." Officials said the multipurpose hall will mainly host kabaddi, aiding intense drills, match play and plans. The strength hall targets performance, endurance, recovery and injury control.

Mandaviya said the para athlete hostel and centralised dining hall were built with funds from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, showing a joint government push for inclusive sport. Stressing total growth, he said sporting success also relies on nutrition, mental health, discipline and proper recovery for every athlete.