Hockey GK Chikte applies for KIC at his sports academy

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 14, 2020

INDIA goalkeeper Akash Chikte is planning to promote and develop hockey culture in his native Yavatmal district.
Born and brought up in Lohara Village of Yavatmal, Chikte, who has started an academy “Akash Chikte Sports Academy” a few years ago, has applied for the Khelo India Hockey Centre at his academy.
The decision to apply for government-backed Khelo India Centre grant will further boost the promotion of the game in Yavatmal.
In the month of June, the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports decided to establish 1000 Khelo India Centres (KIC) at district level across the country with the help of sporting champions, who will be remunerated for providing their expertise. The centres will either be run by a past champion or have them as a coach.
“As we strive to make India a sporting superpower, one of the things we have to ensure is that sports become a viable career option for youngsters,” Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had then said.
According to government’s rules, the first category of athletes who will be considered for the grant are those who have represented India at recognised international competitions under a recognised NSF or association.
Taking advantage of this Chikte, who has represented India in quite a few international events and has helped the country win gold medal as well, decided to apply for the centre at his academy.
Chikte has represented India in over 40 international matches and is a recipient of five international medals including the winning best goalkeeper award at Men’s Asia Cup-2017.
Chikte, who is also a Shiv Chhatrapati award winner, the highest sports award of Maharashtra Government, through his application, stated that Yavatmal has produced more than 50 players who
have participated in national championships.
“At present, there are around 50 players, boys and girls, regularly training at my academy. I think a Khelo India Hockey Centre would definitely help players of the region. This will also be helpful for Maharashtra and will definitely produce players who would one day represent the country,” Chikte, who was part of the silver medal winning Indian team at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2016, told ‘The Hitavada.’
Chikte won gold medal at the Dhaka 10th Asia Cup held in Bangladesh in 2017. He won bronze medal for India in the World Hockey League held at Bhubaneshwar in 2017.
To be eligible for grant under the scheme, the former athlete will be required to personally impart full-time training to athletes at the centre. Organisations which have been promoting sports for at least five years will also be eligible to establish a KIC, provided they recruit past champions as coaches.
The grant to each KIC will be extended for remuneration of the past champion athlete as coach, support staff, purchase of equipment, sports kits, consumable, participation in competition and events. The process of identifying new KICs will be carried out by the sports department of the respective State and Union Territory in liaison with District Collectors and the proposal will be forwarded to the SAI’s regional centre for further evaluation.
“I want more and more players from our region reach international level and play for the country. There is abundance of talent in our players. A full fledged Khelo India hockey centre will only help in boosting the performance and skills of the players,” said Chikte, who had represented Vidarbha and had also played at Nagpur in his initial days.