Infrastructure inadequacy inhibits the participation of students in sports. Educationists express deep concern over this enduring malaise. Against this scenario, it is refreshing to note a few institutions formulating programmes to elevate their existing facilities to fit the term ‘world class.'
Education is incomplete without sporting skills, asserts Kala Vijayakumar, president, SSN Institutions. Sport, she argues, enhances the personality development of students and prepares them to successfully confront the social, mental and physical challenges of life.
Ms. Kala elaborates this, stating that the enormous level of concentration and positive energy inherent in the youth need to be canalised in a well-charted avenue of sporting activities for which infrastructure is the sine qua non. The SSN Institutions are now focussed on accomplishing this, she emphasises.
Claiming the existing facilities at the SSN Institutions are on a par with any available across the country, conforming to the international stipulations, Ms. Kala unfolded the schemes on the anvil to take the present infrastructure to a different plane.
Two months ago, the college installed two flood-lit synthetic courts for hosting the national under-23 tennis championship. Ramesh Krishnan, the former Davis Cup captain, declared open this facility.
What the college possesses now is good enough for international competitions. These include two modern glass squash courts to facilitate practice for the World No 2 junior player, Anaka Alankamony, one of its students. Anaka was part of the Indian women team's historic win in the Asian Championships in Kuwait last week.
Test cricketer, R. Ashwin, and international paddler K. Shamini, are also products of SSN.
Ms. Kala is convinced that it is wrong to say indulgence in sports impacts adversely on studies. On the contrary, she feels, sport supplements it by affording a chance for the practitioners to take their mind off the monotony of the systematic, but compulsive, visits to libraries, labs and lectures.
An ambitious project now under way for SSN relates to the laying of turf pitches on a budget of Rs. 80 lakh. “Our aim is to host Ranji Trophy and regular matches,” gushes the energetic Physical Director, P. Balaji, about the emerging cricketing facility.
Expert curators are associated with preparing the pitches. A specialist architect is on the job for designing the pavilion to enhance the venue's ambience.
Former Test cricketers Robin Singh and Sadagopan Ramesh are said to be interested in starting a cricket academy on the premises. Promoters are lining up to make use of the ground for private tournaments.
The ultimate goal is to convert the infrastructure into a Sports Academy meeting international standards with a residential hostel for trainees.
Once completed, they will include a synthetic track, a 50-metre swimming pool, along with the existing wooden-floored indoor stadium for basketball and badminton, and a separate spacious hall for table tennis.
Foreign coaches
A proposal to rope in foreign coaches for a specific period is also engaging attention. The facilities may be opened up for students from other colleges for summer camps. A scheme to expose students to competitions abroad is being programmed.
Ms. Kala admits that the extra focus on sport is largely due to the dynamism and encouragement of the founder Dr. Shiv Nadar since the college's inception in 1996. Dr. Nadar's wife, Kiran, an internationally renowned bridge player, is among the trustees.
The college has spent so far around Rs.12 crore from the SSN Charitable Trust for constructing its infrastructure. In short, what the college strives to achieve is to ensure a fair balance between education and sports.
