The Sports Authority of India (SAI), today signed a MoU with Coal India Limited (CIL) and the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for a state of the art academy to be set up in Kolkata.
The MoU is initially for a period eight years and could be extended on mutual agreement of the parties concerned.
Named Coal India-SAI National Table Tennis Academy, it will start functioning from Kolkata s Salt Lake Stadium premises of SAI, with Coal India pumping in over Rs. 7 crore towards constructing a training centre that can accommodate 24 tables and house 48 residential trainees, all in the age group of 10-14 years.
But come August, the academy will be able to induct 24 residential trainees before gradually increasing its capacity to 48, according to the MoU.
SAI, on its part, will provide adequate space within its Netaji Subhas Eastern Centre at Salt Lake to construct the training centre with all modern facilities, besides appointing support staff, coaches, making available a complete scientific support, flooring, etc.
Under the MoU, SAI is expected to meet the obligation of appointing two officials, seven coaches, a two-member staff and eight sparring partners, including some from abroad. The space provided for hostel at its premises will be large enough to comfortably accommodate 50 trainees with separate floors for boys and girls.
CIL, on the other hand, will support the cause financially under CSR and take care of all capital expenditure and sports equipment and
other operating costs for the initial period of three years which is extendable.