Sports News : Anurag Thakur chairs the SAI’s 55th Governing Body Meeting

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur chaired the Sports Authority of India’s 55th Governing Body Meeting, his first, since taking over the Sports Ministry earlier this year. The meeting was attended by Minister of State Shri Nisith Pramanik and members of the Governing Body including IOA General Secretary Shri. Rajeev Mehta, prominent ex-athletes Deepak Thakur, Bhaichug Bhutia, Akhil Kumar,Trupti Murgunde, Kamlesh Mehta, among others and senior members of the Sports Ministry, SAI, and saw various key decisions being taken. The primary announcement was made by Anurag Thakur is the restructuring of SAI's workforce with focus on sports science and performance management. Decisions to give out-of-turn promotions for SAI Coaches and partnership with corporate India to strengthen existing facilities for athletes through CSR initiatives and direct funding, were also approved at the meeting. The restructuring of SAI workforce and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme Secretariat aims at strengthening the existing support system provided to sportspersons so they can excel at international competitions, especially the Olympics and Paralympics. The members of the Governing Body also acknowledged the performance of the athletes at the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics and approved the proposal to give out-of-turn promotions to five SAI Coaches, four of them current athletes, as a token of appreciation.