Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya today said that India is set to become one among the top ten performing countries in the world in the field of sports. The minister was inaugurating the upgraded SAI Golf Course at Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram. Union Minister also emphasized the significance of the Trivandrum Golf Club as a cherished community and a symbol of sporting excellence.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also said that Olympics 2036 in India will nurture the talent in the country. Minister stressed that healthy people will make healthy society, healthy society will be wealthy society. Sports will make people physically, mentaly and culturally fit. Keeping this in mind, we work out from district level through Khelo India programme.

Union Minister expressed immense pride in the establishment of SAI National Golf Academy, first of its kind in Kerala. The National Golf Academy is equipped with world-class facilities such as a nine-hole international-standard golf course, state-of-the-art fitness centre and modern recreational amenities. 

The minister visited and examined the upgraded Golf Course after inauguration, and further explored the course by playing golf. The upgraded Golf Course has been established by the approval of the Ministry of Tourism in line with the Government of India’s commitment to enhancing sporting infrastructure, on March 31, 2017. An allocation of Rs. 9.27 crore was made to SAI’s Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE), and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has successfully completed this ambitious project, further elevating the club’s standards to meet international benchmarks.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated international athletes of SAI, Thiruvananthapuram, as part of the event. Shri Suresh Gopi, Minister of state for Tourism & Minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas, presided over the function. While addressing the audience, thr minister of state said that the Golf club and Tennis club of Trivandrum has brought real talents from the lowest strata of society.

Smt. Sarada Muraleedharan, Chief secretary, Government of Kerala, Shri. Suman Billa IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Shri S.N. Raghuchandran Nair, Secretary, SAI TGC attended the event.

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SK