Hockey hub in Bangalore or Delhi: SAI

NEW DELHI: Director general of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Desh Deepak Varma on Tuesday said that the institution was planning to develop its Bangalore centre or the Dhyan Chand National Stadium as a centralized hockey center.

“We are working towards having an institution dedicated to hockey either in the National Stadium or in Bangalore,” the SAI DG told TOI on the sidelines of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon press conference.

“The idea is to put in place a mechanism to ensure good facilities for the athletes in terms of taking care of support services like rehabilitation, physiology and psychology of hockey players. An institution that conducts research and works on players’ fitness and stamina,” the SAI DG added.

Referring to an incident in Bangalore, when hockey players had to cancel a workout session as the venue was locked and the concerned person did not turn up, Varma said that SAI will ensure “events like this are not repeated” and athletes are provided with best of facilities.