More than 220 athletes attend selection trials for Late Manohar Parrikar Sports Excellence Centre in Goa

In a significant step towards boosting grassroots sports development, the Goa Government’s Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs (DSYA) has established the Late Manohar Parrikar Sports Excellence Centre in Kushavati District. The initiative received a mixed response, with more than 220 young athletes participating in the selection trials on June 18, 2026.

As part of the Goa government’s vision to identify and nurture sporting talent, the Sports Excellence Centre will provide world-class infrastructure and professional coaching programmes. Aligning with the state’s expanding sports ecosystem, including the ₹28-crore indoor sports facility initiative spearheaded by Sports Minister Dr Ramesh Tawadkar and existing venues such as the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium at Navelim.

The centre will provide professional training to boys and girls aged 10 to 18 in five disciplines: Athletics, Badminton, Handball, Kho-Kho, and Kabaddi, with coaching sessions to be conducted at the Balram Residential School campus.

The selection trials for the inaugural batch started at 3 p.m. on June 18 and attracted participants from across the state. The first phase saw the selection of 100 talented athletes for further systematic training and development under professional coaches.

Goa’s Sports Minister Dr Ramesh Tawadkar highlighted the vision behind the establishment of the Sports Excellence Centre, stressing the government’s commitment to creating opportunities for aspiring athletes in the state. He further mentioned that similar Sports Excellence Centres will be set up in every district of the state, ensuring that young athletes have easy access to professional training.

Sportscape views the inauguration of the Late Manohar Parrikar Sports Excellence Centre in Goa’s Kushavati District as a landmark step towards promoting sports in the state. With these excellence centres, high-class coaching facilities will be accessible for young athletes belonging to remote corners of the state.