Ahmedabad, 1 June 2012

The various sports facilities at Eklavya Sports Academy, the AUDA-GCA venture were left opened amidst fanfare and cheers of budding sports aspirants to-day morning. Mr. Parimal Nathwani, the vice president of Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) lighted the lamp to mark the formal commencement of the facilities in presence of office-bearers of AUDA and GCA among others. AUDA Chairman Mr. Dharmendrabhai Shah and CEO Mrs D. Tara Specially remained present on this occasion.

The GCA is assigned to manage the Eklavya Academy under the guidance of the GCA president and Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and GCA vice presidents Mr. Amit Shah and Mr. Parimal Nathwani.

The objective of the Academy is to prepare the national level sportsmen in various games. To start with, the Academy is ready with the swimming pool, skating rink, table tennis, volley ball and tennis in the first phase. Walkers and joggers are already using the Academy’s tracks. In a short period of time from now, the Academy will launch facilities for Cricket, Karate, Gymnasium, Yoga and adventure sports also.

There has been a good response to this initiative and about 2000 aspirants of different sports collected the forms. The GCA also intends to commence coaching for beginners and advance learners. The Academy will remain open from morning six till ten at night. The Sports Complex of the Academy is equipped at present with seven table tennis tables, four international quality synthetic tennis courts of 36 ft. by 78 ft. each; roller skating rink with 200 mtrs circumference and practice rink in the centre; 50 mtrs by 25 mtrs swimming-cum-diving pool with 4.5 ft shallow water depth and 24 ft maximum depth; and two volleyball courts each measuring 18 mtrs x 9 mtrs. All these sports have one head coach each. In addition, table tennis and tennis have three assistant coaches each. For roller skating and volley ball, the Academy has one assistant coach each; but for swimming there are five assistant coaches besides a head coach. The facilities leave ample scope for large number of regular players as well as learners in different batches combined.

Among those who remained present during inauguration included Chairman-Standing Committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Mr. Bhupendrabhai Patel and the local councilors, AUDA engineers Mr. Doshi and Mr. Pathak etc. GCA Secretary Mr. Rajesh Patel, joint secretaries Mr Mehul Patel, Mr. Bharat Dudhia and Mr. Ashok Saheba and treasurer Mr. Dhiraj Jogani also attended the function. CBCA president Mr. Bharat Jhaveri, secretary Mr. Anil Patel and district office-bearers, coaches and host of sports lovers graced the function.