Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Set Up A National Athletics Academy In Palakkad, Kerala. on 10 August, 2010
> Title : Need to set up a National Athletics Academy in Palakkad, Kerala.
SHRI M.B. RAJESH (PALAKKAD): alakkad has become a nursery for Indian athletics in recent years. This area is home to plenty of talented teenagers who have made remarkable achievements in national school meet and other important national level competitions. Some schools from this area are producing best athletes. However, the problem is that Palakkad is a comparatively backward district. Most of these budding talents belong to poor families. These families are not in a position to support their talented children and to provide them expensive coaching. Due to the economic backwardness of the area there is no sports infrastructure and facilities for proper training. Even the city is lacking a 400 metre track of good quality. If the Government of India and Sports Ministry take steps to set up an Athletics Academy of national Standards it will be helpful in nurturing good athletes. Unless scientific training is provided, these talents will be wasted. So I urge upon the Government of India to set up a National Athletics Academy in Palakkad which is having great potential in athletics.