WATER SPORTS ORGANISED BY SPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, Kolkata. [ Visit www.saical.org ]

The successful operation of SAI in water sports activities at its sub centre at Port Blair & Car Nicobar in Andaman & Nicobar Island over the years help to motivate the decision making authorities in SAI expand its activities in the main land of the Eastern Region. With this in background, in the millennium year of 2000 – 2001 the Sports Authority of India, Kolkata decides to create a thrill in Sports by introducing Kayaking, Canoeing & Rowing as a regular programme in its academic courses at Regional head Quarters in Kolkata.

In the absence of the water body of its own Sports Authority of India, Kolkata had been in contact with the Dept. of Tourism, Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of West Bengal with a specific proposal for conducting a course in Kayaking of 4 week duration at Subhas Sarobar, Kolkata to develop promote adventure tourism and adventure sports as well. The first 4 week training programme in Kayaking commenced on 23rd January and concluded on 23rd February, 2000 with the participation of about 25 boys from the different parts of West Bengal and from neighbouring state of Tripura. This apart, a team of youths from a State of West Bengal in collaboration with West Bengal State Canoeing Association was sent to Allahabad in February, 2000 to participate at Ganga Water Rally. The expenditure on holding the Camp in Kayaking and organising participation at the Water Rally was shared suitably by Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal & Sports Authority of India. It was just a beginning.

Sports Authority of India, Kolkata has again been approached by Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal to organise a similar camp in Kayaking either at Subhas Sarobar or Nalban Boating Complex at Salt Lake where a band of trainees of SAI doing their water sports activities both in the morning and in the afternoon as a regular schedule. The second camp in Kayaking in collaboration with Dept. of Tourism is expected to take place in October – November, 2000 with anticipated participation of about 50 boys & girls in two batches from the District of West Bengal with a view to popularising adventure Sports and Tourism as well. This is what SAI believes the youths both male & female will definitely enjoy not only as recreation but also as a profession.

Let us make the Sports natural environment with lake river and wide coastal facilities of this Region and West Bengal in particular for training in Water Sports in a massive way in the years to come.

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