NSA Allahabad producing young gymnasts for India

Talking to The Indian Express,Mishra informed,“ The Academy is a private initiative started by me and is run by three societies— the National Sports Academy,the Khelgaon Public School and the Allahabad Gymnastic Association. The funds come basically from sponsorship. Running and establishing this Academy would not have been possible without the assistance of Dhampur Sugar Mills which provides for almost 90 per cent of the sponsorship. There is a huge gymnastic hall measuring 68m long and 38m wide. Despite the equipment becoming old,it is due to the dedication of the players and the coaches that the boys have been doing well.”

“The Khelgaon Public School has been established by me to encourage gymnastics. Some of the Academy students also study here. It has around 500 students. I was national champion in the sport in 1967 and the same year,I did a doctorate in biochemical engineering. Education is a must for all-round development. Teaching is imparted in English because at the international level the players benefit from it. For providing education the fee is charged from the students. It is at par with other institutions,say Rs 1,300 per month from a student of Class VIII. However,training and hostel facility at NSA is absolutely free,” he added.

“The repute that the NSA has achieved can be gauged from the fact that last year the Indian team probables’ camp for Commonwealth Games was held there from January 2009 to July 2009. In the Indian team announced for the Games,five out of seven boys— Ashish Kumar,Mayank Srivastava,Rohit Jaiswal,Alok Ranjan and Vivek Mishra belonged to this Academy,” informs coach DK Rathore.

Rathore is quite elated with Ashish’s efforts and was full of praise for the lone Indian hope left in gymnastics in Commonwealth Games. Rathore said, “ Ashish sweats it out for seven hours a day and I am happy that his efforts are yielding fruit in a sport in which Indians are not known to be very good at. His talent in the sport can be gauged from the fact that till now he has won 5 golds,5 silver and 7 bronze in various international events at various levels till now. His father Jagdish Prasad Kanojia who is a fourth class employee with the Railways will be joining him soon at Delhi. We expect a gold from him in the vault event tomorrow.”