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The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is India’s highest national sports organization. The Sports Authority of India was established in 1982 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Indian government to promote the sport in the country. SAI has two sports academic institutions, eleven “SAI Regional Centres” (SRC), fourteen “Centres of Excellence” (COE/COX), 56 “Sports Training Centres” (STC), and twenty “Special Area Games” (SAG) (SAG). In addition, SAI manages the Netaji Subhash High Altitude Training Centre in Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh, along with five stadiums in Delhi, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (which also serves as SAI’s national headquarters), Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Dhyan Chand National Stadium, SPM Swimming Pool Complex, and the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.
Sports Authority of India: Quick Facts
- Sports Authority of India was established in 1982.
- Governed by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Indian government
- Mission: To promote the sport in the country
- Headquarters: SAI (Head office), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Delhi), Lodhi Road, Delhi, India.
- Sports Authority of India chairman: Sandip Pradhan
- SAI official website: http://sportsauthorityofindia.gov.in/sai/
- Sports Authority of India logo
Sports Authority of India: History
On the Moti Bagh Palace grounds in Patiala, the National Institute of Sports (NIS) was established for the promotion of sports after independence on May 7, 1961. It was renamed Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports on January 23, 1973. (NSNIS).
The Sports Authority of India was founded by a committee created to organize the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982. The “Department of Sports” of the Government of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports created the “Sports Authority of India” as a registered society on January 25, 1984. The “Society for National Institute of Physical Education and Sports” (SNIPES) merged with SAI on May 1, 1987, bringing the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala and its affiliated centers in Bhopal, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Gandhinagar, as well as the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education in Thiruvananthapuram, under SAI’s umbrella.
Its academic branches were the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala and the Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education in Thiruvananthapuram. Gwalior’s the Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education was designated as a “Deemed University” in 1995.
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SAI Regional Centres (SRC)
- Netaji Subhas Regional Centre, Chandigarh
- SAI Chaudhary Devi Lal Northern Regional Centre, Sonepat, Haryana
- Netaji Subhas Regional Centre, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- SAI Netaji Subhas North-East Regional Centre, Guwahati, Assam
- SAI Netaji Subhas North-East Regional Centre, Imphal, Manipur
- Netaji Subhas Eastern Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal
- SAI Udhav Das Mehta Bhaiji Central Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- SAI Netaji Subhas Southern Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Regional Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- SAI Netaji Subhas Western Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Sports Authority of India: SAI Academies
SAI is comprised of two academic institutes that offer graduate and post-graduate courses in sports medicine, sports, and physical education in order to train coaches and other sports support personnel.
Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) at Patiala
Courses Offered
- Refresher Courses
- Certificate Course in Sports Coaching via SAI Regional Centres (SRC)s
- Diploma in Sports Coaching
- Post-graduate Diploma Course in Sports medicine
- Master’s degree in Sports Coaching
Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE) at Thiruvananthapuram
Courses Offered
- Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE)
- Master of Physical Education (MPE)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Regular and Part-time
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Sports Authority of India: National Coaching Camps
In order to prepare Indian teams for various national and international events, SAI organizes many national coaching camps in several disciplines in SAI centers and other centers throughout the year.
| S.No. | Venue | Discipline |
| 1. | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi | Archery, Athletics, and Paralympic |
| 2. | Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Delhi | Boxing, Basketball, Cycling, and Gymnastics |
| 3. | Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi | Hockey |
| 4. | Dr. Syama Prasad Mookherjee Swimming Pool Complex, Delhi | Swimming |
| 5. | Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, Delhi | Shooting |
| 6. | Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala (Punjab) | Athletics, Boxing, Hockey, Weightlifting, Judo, and Table Tennis |
| 7. | Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) | Swimming |
| 8. | SAI Water Sports Centre, Alappuzha (Kerala) | Kayaking and Canoeing |
| 9. | SAI Netaji Subhas Eastern Centre, Kolkata (West Bengal) | Archery |
| 10. | SAI Udhav Das Mehta Bhaiji Central Centre, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) | Judo, Kabaddi, Kayaking & Canoeing, Volleyball, Wushu, and Taekwondo |
| 11. | SAI Netaji Subhash Regional Centre, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) | Wrestling for Women (FreeStyle), Judo and Table Tennis |
| 12. | SAI Netaji Subhash Western Centre, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) | Basketball, Football, Kabaddi, Paralympic, and Taekwondo |
| 13. | SAI Netaji Subhash Southern Centre, Bengaluru (Karnataka) | Athletics, Hockey, Football, Judo, Kabaddi, Paralympic, Swimming and Volleyball |
| 14. | SAI Chaudhary Devi Lal Northern Regional Centre, Sonepat (Haryana) | Wrestling for Men (Free and Greco Roman Style) and Paralympic |
| 15. | SAI Aurangabad Western Centre (Maharashtra) | Basketball |
| 16. | SAI Dharamshala Training Centre, Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) | Athletics |
| 17. | Netaji Subhash High Altitude Training Centre, Shillaroo (Jammu and Kashmir) | Hockey, Weightlifting and Judo |
| 18. | P.T. Usha Academy (Kerala) | Athletics |
| 19. | P. Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderabad (Telangana) | Badminton |
| 20. | Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, Bengaluru (Karnataka) | Badminton |
| 21. | Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports Shooting range at Patiala (Punjab) | Shooting |
| 22. | A P Rowing Academy, Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad (Telangana) | Rowing |
Sports Authority of India: Operations Division
Different sports promotion schemes of SAI, aimed at spotting and nurturing talent are being implemented and monitored through the networks of SAI centers.
Sports Authority of India Schemes
| S.No. | Name of Scheme | Age group |
| 1. | National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) | 8–14 years |
| 2. | Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC) | 8–14 years |
| 3. | SAI Training Centre (STC) | 12–18 years |
| 4. | Special Area Games (SAG) | 12–18 years |
| 5. | Extension Centres of STCs/SAGs | 12–18 years |
| 6. | Centre of Excellence (COE) | 12–25 years |
| 7. | Come and play | 8–17 years |
| 8. | Community Connect | Open |
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Khelo India
The Khelo India Program is a nationwide yojana/scheme to promote sports development in India. It was first inaugurated in Delhi in 2018 by then-Sports Minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. The goal of this initiative is to develop India’s sports culture.
The Union Cabinet approved the revamped ‘Khelo India’ program, which combines the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan’ (formerly known as the ‘Yuva Krida & Khel Abhiyan’), the ‘Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme’, and the National Sports Talent Search Syst The program promotes both “Sports for Excellence” and “Sports for All.”
On the official website, candidates may find full information on the Khelo India National Programme for Sports Development.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
The TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) was introduced in 2014 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Government of India.
- The scheme’s goal is to offer athletes financial and other aid in their quest for medals in the Olympics and other international sports events.
- Athletes and sportspeople will receive individualized instruction from top coaches at contemporary and well-equipped sports facilities and institutions under this program.
- Athletes are also offered support with the purchase of sport-specific equipment.
- They are also given assistance in participating in international athletic events and in appointing support personnel such as physiotherapists, sports psychologists, and physical trainers, among other things.
- In addition, as an incentive, the selected athletes and sportspersons are granted an out-of-pocket allowance of a specified amount.
- Some sporting events have been designated as “High Priority” locations such as:
- Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Shooting, and Wrestling
- A committee determines whether athletes qualify for TOPS rewards.
- In 2020, the government introduced Junior TOPS, a similar program aimed at producing Olympic winners in 2028 and aimed at youngsters aged 10 to 12.
How to join Sports Authority of India
You can apply to a scheme in a simple three-step process:
Step 1 – Create an account on the website. You may sign up for your ward here.
Step 2 – Make a profile for yourself. This is a critical step to take. Every year, many people apply for the SAI program. Provide as much information as possible in order to be nominated, especially if you have previously been a sportsperson and competed in contests.
Step 3 – Fill out an application for a scheme. After you’ve built your profile, you may apply to any SAI plan that fits your needs.
