Ministry of youth affairs and sports to promote wrestling

KOLKATA: The Minister of State (I/C) for youth affairs and sports Vijay Goel said in the Lok Sabha today that the Government of India through Sports Authority of India (SAI) under its National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC) adopts akharas which have produced talented wrestlers in the past and having indoor training facility.

The adopted akharas, Goel said, are provided with sports kit, stipend, competition exposure and insurance. The kit apart, there are also specialised coaches.

Presently there are 41 Akharas adopted by SAI where 724 wrestlers (664 boys and 60 girls) are being trained.

Goel said that SAI has also recently adopted Jog Maharaj Vyayamshala, Pune under its Akhara Scheme and 19 talented female wrestlers are being trained in the Akhara.

“Wrestling being a traditional Indian sport, efforts are being made to admit more number of female wrestlers under SAI schemes, since there is enormous potential among the Indian women in the discipline of wrestling,” said Goel.