Teams from different states participating in the National Inter-District Junior Athletics Meet held in 2017 at Port Stadium, Visakhapatnam. , photo credit: KR Deepak
A go-karting track, mini golf course, renovated basketball and badminton courts, floodlights on the ground, bowling alley, snow world and professional training academies for around 15 sports: this new club located in the heart of Visakhapatnam is the latest sports hub.
Consisting of greenery, walkways, playgrounds and indoor stadiums, the Visakhapatnam Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium (Port Stadium) at Akkayyapalem was inaugurated in 1993 and has become synonymous with the many sporting events held in the city.
After nearly three decades, Port Stadium is in the process of getting a facelift with several additional facilities. City-based Vishwanath Sports Club (VSC) has adopted the stadium on a 10-year lease to upgrade and build infrastructure and nurture sporting talent at the grassroots level in Andhra Pradesh by collaborating with leading coaching academies.
The infrastructure is being upgraded at a cost of Rs 70 crore. It includes a 400-metre go-karting track near the East Gate of Port Stadium, a Snow World and Water Park on a two-acre area behind the basketball courts, an amphitheater, children’s park and bowling alley. Civil works have already started and are expected to be completed in six months.
Archery classes at Port Stadium, Visakhapatnam. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“We aim to create a sports hub that will not only help in unearthing talent but also create a sporting culture in the city as well as the state. Narendra Kumar, director of Vishwanath Sports Club, says, “We are working towards developing the highest level of facilities in the stadium.
To kick start the club activities and provide a glimpse of the training academies, Vishwanath Sports Club is conducting a summer camp from 1st May which will have over 30 activities over a period of six weeks.
Activities include Cricket, Badminton, Volleyball, Hockey, Athletics, Basketball, Archery, Karate, Rifle Shooting, Taekwondo, Fencing, Painting, Dance, Music, Yoga, Robotics etc. The camp is open to participants in the age group of six to 18 years.
“Summer camps are a great platform to spot sporting talents at a young age. However, there is no continuity in sports training after these camps are over as Visakhapatnam lacks a permanent sports center with good infrastructure for a long time. The kids will now get an opportunity to train under the guidance of reputed coaches under one platform,” says badminton coach MV Murali Krishna, one of the coaches at the Badminton Academy at VSC. The Port Stadium has three badminton courts with synthetic flooring for professional players and five wooden floor courts for novices.
Indoor Stadium at Port Stadium, Visakhapatnam. , photo credit: special arrangement
According to hockey coach Peter Das, more than four decades ago, the Gymkhana Ground was the most happening playing field in Forest Town. “It was the center of all sporting activities in Visakhapatnam, and hockey ruled that time. Young sports enthusiasts running to the Gymkhana grounds in the early hours and evenings was a common sight, says Peter, a former national player who played with hockey star Dhanraj Pillai in the Olympics and Asian Games. The Gymkhana ground produced over 120 hockey players who represented the state and Andhra University in the senior and junior nationals. By the late 1980s, the Gymkhana ground was abuzz with sporting activities and as a result, Andhra Pradesh was well represented in state and national sports.
An aerial view of the port stadium surrounded by greenery being developed as a sports hub by Vishwanath Sports Club in Visakhapatnam. , photo credit: KR Deepak
“So when the Port Stadium was built in the 1990s, we were excited. However, there was no grassroots coaching apart from summer camps. Over the years, sports culture declined. Thrust shows a promising start. It is centrally located and has an advantage in terms of accessibility as well as infrastructure support,” says Peter, who will be part of the VSC training academy.
The sports club at the Port Stadium will provide much needed visibility to several other sports in the martial arts category that are producing great talent from Visakhapatnam, says karate coach Satish Kumar. “Visakhapatnam is all set to host the 19th WKI International Karate Championship at the Port Stadium in November this year. About 15 countries are participating in it. The training academy along with infrastructure support at the Port Stadium by Vishwanath Sports Club will help identify and nurture talent in the region. Every year, Visakhapatnam has produced karate talent who has won gold at the national level,” says Satish Kumar, who has several international achievements in karate and has been imparting training since 1995.
People can also pay for slots to play games at Vishwanath Sports Club in Port Stadium. In the upcoming sports summer camp, registration for any sport can be done through BookMyShow.