Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju on Monday launched the Assam Rifles Public School (ARPS) in Shillong as a Khelo India Sports School on Monday, making it the first Sports School announced under Khelo India scheme in Northeast India.
The disciplines finalised for the school are Archery, Athletics and Fencing with total intake strength of 100 athletes (Boys and girls in equal ratio) for the first year, the Youth and Affairs and Sports Ministry said.
“It is a historic beginning of a journey for the Assam Rifles Public School and this Khelo India sports centre will be nurturing young boys and girls, who will, in the long run, bring medals from the Olympics,” Rijiju said.
The Centre approved nine Sports Schools in India so far. Five of them are managed by Defence and Para-military forces. Expenses for talented sports students of the school will be borne by the government in terms of lodging, boarding, education expenses, competition exposure, insurance and medical, sports training and support, the salary of coaches & support staff, sports equipment, and more, the ministry said.
The Ministry said Khelo India Sports School aims to integrate sports with education and in the process, develop sports in the country and improve the overall profile and outlook of athletes. This will also help in the identification and upliftment of talent from North-eastern, rural or tribal areas.
Rijiju also said, “Sport has always been an integral part of this school and they will be producing future champions. I must acknowledge Lt Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan for making tremendous changes in this school with several initiatives taken over the years. The sports school will be an added crown in the achievement of the school and this will be a huge boost to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a sporting powerhouse.”
The Ministry stated that Assam Rifles Public School was designated as a Khelo India Sports School because of a good track record in academics & sports, adequate boarding & lodging (hostel) facilities, sufficient space to develop sports facilities and inclination to develop Olympic sports under an inter-ministerial partnership between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Home Affairs.