UP's First Khelo India State Centre of Excellence to Start in Lucknow Soon

After establishing the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) at Varanasi's Sigra Stadium recently, the Sports Authority of India is all set to launch Uttar Pradesh's first Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) with the help of the state government at the Guru Govind Singh Sports College in Lucknow.

- Sharad Deep

LUCKNOW:

The SAI has initially adopted two disciplines — hockey and athletics — for this centre. It will add one more from wrestling, badminton or football in future. There would be 80 sportspersons, including 50 athletes aged between 14 and 18 years, at this centre.

UP's new Khelo India State Centres of Excellence is expected to be made operational in July when the new session begins, but not before the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SAI and the state government.

"In the first phase of Khelo India State Centres of Excellence at the Guru Govind Singh Sports College, we have picked athletics and hockey as the two disciplines to start with. SAI will provide all support to it," SAI's regional director incharge Atma Prakash said.