Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday virtually inaugurated the foundation stone laying ceremony for a state-of-the-art High Performance Centre (HPC) at the Sports Authority of India’s Netaji Subhas Southern Centre (NSSC) in Bengaluru, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s elite sports ecosystem.
The virtual event was attended by senior officials from the sports ministry, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), along with eminent athletes, coaches and sports science experts.
The proposed High Performance Centre, to be built at a total cost of Rs 75 crore, will be developed with Rs 60 crore in CSR support from HAL. According to a ministry release, the facility will enhance India’s high-performance athlete preparation by bringing world-class sports science and support services under one roof.
Once operational, the HPC will feature advanced infrastructure for sports medicine, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation and recovery, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, nutrition, performance analysis and hydrotherapy. The integrated setup is aimed at enabling holistic, scientific and data-driven training for elite athletes.
Addressing the gathering, Mandaviya said the project reflects India’s transition from a participation-oriented approach to becoming a podium-focused sporting nation. He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the guiding principle of “reform, perform, and transform” is reshaping the country’s sports ecosystem.
“This High Performance Centre will ensure that training and recovery are guided by science and technology, enabling our athletes to compete and excel at the highest international level,” the minister said.
Mandaviya also praised HAL for its substantial CSR contribution, describing the collaboration as a strong example of public sector enterprises contributing to nation-building through sport. “An organisation that contributes to national defence is now contributing to India’s sporting excellence,” he remarked.
Highlighting the legacy of SAI NSSC Bengaluru, the minister said the centre continues to be one of the country’s premier sporting hubs, hosting National Centres of Excellence, national coaching camps and elite training programmes across disciplines.
The HPC is expected to play a crucial role in India’s preparations for major international competitions and aligns with the country’s long-term ambition of emerging as a global sporting power, including aspirations to host the 2036 Olympic Games.