Patiala (Punjab) [India], February 13 (ANI): Indian fencers praised the newly constructed High-Performance Centre right here on the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports on Thursday, saying it would give an enormous enhance to the specialised Olympic sport.
Developed at an estimated whole value of Rs 22.83 crore, the high-performance centre options state-of-the-art infrastructure that gives an international-standard coaching atmosphere for athletes, based on a press launch from SAI Media.
The HPC homes a totally useful, multipurpose indoor fencing corridor, supporting built-in sports activities science companies, superior power and conditioning services, and structured athlete restoration beneath one roof. The multipurpose indoor corridor is supplied with international-standard infrastructure, together with pistes and digital scoring programs, enabling a high-performance, competition-simulated coaching atmosphere for fencers.
A 24-member Indian senior sabre crew, together with 12 males and 12 girls, is presently coaching beneath head coach Sagar Lagu on the new High-Performance Centre at NSNIS Patiala with an eye fixed on successful medals at this yr’s Asian Games in Japan.
Praising the world-class facility, Sagar, who additionally doubles up as Chief Coach for the Fencing Association of India (FAI), informed SAI Media: ‘Multipurpose halls are there at different SAI services additionally, however having an unique corridor devoted to fencing with all gear at one place is one thing that makes it one-of-a-kind in the complete nation. With my expertise, I can say it’s the greatest facility in India as of now. This HPC was opened simply 20-25 days in the past, and we began off with a nationwide camp for the Asian Games the second it was handed over to us. Currently, 12 males and 12 girls for sabre self-discipline are coaching right here for the Asian Games.’
Fencing is presently in a developmental part in India, with regular and visual enchancment on the worldwide stage. India has not gained a medal on the Asian Games until date, with the most important star being Bhavani Devi, who certified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and stays the one fencer from the nation to have gained a medal on the Senior Asian Championships, securing a bronze medal within the particular person occasion in 2023.
Currently, India has three fencers ranked contained in the Top 100 on the planet, together with Bhavani Devi (Women’s Sabre – WR 59), Karan Singh (Men’s Sabre – WR 75) and Taniksha Khatri (Women’s Epee – WR 86).
2022 Commonwealth Fencing Championship bronze medallist KP Gisho Nidhi, who serves as a Subedar within the Indian Army, gained gold in males’s sabre on the thirty sixth Senior National Fencing Championship final yr and is focusing on a medal on the upcoming Men’s Sabre Grand Prix (May 1 to three, 2026) in South Korea and Men’s Sabre World Cup (May 22 to 24, 2026, in Egypt) within the run-up to the Asian Games.
The Tamil Nadu athlete mentioned that the brand new HPC is the one unique facility for fencing in India and is at least services in Germany and Hungary.
‘I’ve come to NSNIS Patiala for the primary time for a nationwide camp. I’ve been to the Army Sports Institute in Pune and the SAI Aurangabad centre beforehand. It feels nice to be coaching at this newly-built HPC. All fencers have been speaking to one another, saying that this facility is of worldwide customary. I’ve skilled at such multipurpose fencing halls in Germany and Hungary, and this appears at least that. According to my understanding, I do not assume there’s an unique facility for fencing like this one,’ KP Gisho Nidhi informed SAI Media.
The HPC additionally features a devoted Strength and Conditioning Hall, geared up with trendy resistance coaching programs and useful coaching zones, and multidisciplinary companies akin to Sports Anthropometry, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Sports Psychology, and many others. facilitating data-driven efficiency optimisation, damage prevention, and evidence-based rehabilitation.
Another sabre fencer, Vishal Thapar, who gained bronze on the 2018 Commonwealth Championships in Canberra, Australia, mentioned that having an HPC within the sport will make a world of distinction for the efficiency of upcoming athletes.
‘I’m a part of fencing since 2006 and should say that the SAI centre has undergone huge adjustments until now. Having a High-Performance Centre in fencing will make an enormous distinction. The upcoming athletes might be supplied these services from the grassroot stage, in the beginning of their careers, this was unimaginable in my time. They might be getting every kind of steering and coaching together with specialised coaches, power & conditioning, physios, medical doctors, restoration programs. This will take Indian fencing to the subsequent stage,’ Vishal Thapar informed SAI Media.
Junior fencer Sanya from Sangrur district in Punjab mentioned the concentrate on restoration programs makes the brand new HPC considered one of a sort on the planet.
‘When I got here to NSNIS Patiala for the primary time in 2015, there weren’t so many services for us fencers, they’re much better than even European services. One does not discover diet, lodging, restoration and all of the worldwide customary gear beneath one roof, which we discover right here at this HPC. We get hydrotherapy for restoration right here, which we additionally get in Europe. An ice tub was once a part of it, however hydrotherapy is its superior model, which SAI is offering us right here. In all, that is the very best centre for fencing on the planet,’ Sanya informed SAI Media. (ANI)