P.V. Sindhu Launches Centre for Sports Excellence
On Wednesday, Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu and Andhra Pradesh’s IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh officially inaugurated the P.V. Sindhu Centre for Sports Excellence. This new facility aims to develop young athletes and nurture future Olympians in India.
The campus will span nearly 200,000 square feet and is designed to combine both sporting and educational resources, rather than focusing on just one sport.
Initially, the centre was set up to specialize in badminton. However, after discussions with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the scope expanded to include seven sports: badminton, table tennis, swimming, shooting, football, basketball, and chess.
Sindhu emphasized that all sports will receive equal attention at the centre, ensuring a balanced approach from the start.
To shape this ambitious project, extensive research was conducted. Sindhu and her husband, Venkata Datta Sai, dedicated their vacations to visiting top sporting facilities globally, including those in Doha, Milan, and Australia. These visits provided valuable insights into athlete development and sports infrastructure.
“We have put in a lot of effort into this. I assure you it will be a world-class center, and I hope people will see its value for our state and the country,” Sindhu stated in an interview.
The centre is expected to be completed by May 2028. Its aim is to allow young athletes to explore various sports before choosing their specialty, creating a clear path from grassroots participation to high-level competitions.
For Sindhu, this project represents a way to contribute to Indian sports beyond her personal achievements. She sees it as a means to leave a lasting legacy by providing essential resources and opportunities for the next generation of athletes.
“Sport has taught me so much. This is a significant project, and while it’s a challenge, I wanted to create something impactful. I believe our country has immense talent, and with the right facilities, many kids can achieve great success,” she noted.
“My Olympic medals have changed my life, and this centre is how I want to give back. While my medals are my proudest achievement, I hope this centre will be my greatest contribution. Olympic medals inspire generations, but institutions build them.”
Sindhu is set to compete next in the BWF World Championships in New Delhi later this month.
