PANAJI
After years of dwindling enrollments, the two Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centres of Excellence in Goa are witnessing a welcome turnaround, with more athletes joining training programmes at Peddem and Ponda.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Rajya Sabha that the decline in numbers has begun to reverse, raising fresh optimism for the State’s sporting community.
According to data furnished by the minister, a total of 404 Goan athletes have trained at the two centres over the past six years, beginning 2020‑21. Significantly, girls accounted for 225 of these trainees, representing 55 percent of the total.
The centres had 86 athletes on their rosters in 2020‑21. However, the Covid‑19 pandemic and its aftermath saw enrolments plummet, with numbers dropping sharply to just 49 athletes in 2023‑24.
The trend has since shifted and in 2024‑25, the centres recorded 62 athletes, and this year the tally has risen further to 67.
Mandaviya provided these details in a written reply to a question raised by Goa’s lone Rajya Sabha member, Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
He noted that SAI fully funds these centres through its Mumbai Regional Centre, with a budget allocation of ₹45 crore this year.
The Peddem centre currently offers training in football and judo, while the Ponda facility provides coaching in athletics, boxing, judo, and kabaddi. Together, they form the backbone of structured sports training in the State, nurturing young talent across these disciplines.
Officials and coaches believe the renewed interest reflects growing confidence among athletes and parents in the infrastructure and support offered by SAI. The rise in participation is also being seen as a positive sign for Goa’s broader sporting ambitions, particularly as the State seeks to strengthen its presence in national competitions.
