'Sports Authority of India will now be Sports India'

New Delhi: More than 34 years after coming into existence, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is set to be renamed as Sports India, Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore announced on Wednesday after the sports body's governing body meeting here.

"Sports Authority of India is being renamed. The word authority is being removed. It will be known as Sports India now," Rathore said after the meeting even as the press release issued by SAI had no mention of the change in name being approved.

The sports body, established in 1984, organised its 50th

General Body meeting, where it was also decided that coaches will be given a say in decision making and the food expenses of athletes will also be increased.

The governing body also advised SAI to bring in reputed companies in the hospitality sector to manage the residential and food facilities under the SAI Residential Scheme.

"It was emphasised that the highest quality of food and nutrition which is appropriate to the development of athletes at various levels should be ensured and there should be zero compromise on this issue," said the release.

Recently, the Indian men's hockey coach Harendra Singh had highlighted the shockingly low level of hygiene at

SAI's Bengaluru centre, where the quality of food and standard of living came under the scanner.