In a significant step towards promoting sports among young women in India, General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), visited the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune to inaugurate the newly established Army Girls Sports Company (AGSC). The event also featured a virtual inauguration of the AGSC for the Shooting discipline at Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), Mhow.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including Sh Sandeep Pradhan, Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Ms Anju Bobby George, Senior Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India, along with other distinguished guests and elite athletes.
The Army Sports Institute, established on July 1, 2001, under the “Mission Olympics Programme,” is a pioneering multi-disciplinary sports institute. It trains sportsmen from the Army and talented young boys from across India in seven sports disciplines: Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Diving, Wrestling, Fencing, and Weightlifting.
The ASI is equipped with a team of internationally renowned coaches, physical trainers, and specialists in sports medicine, physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and nutrition, offering state-of-the-art training infrastructure and support services.
The ASI has a rich history of producing champions and has been instrumental in the success of many athletes, including Olympians like Neeraj Chopra. The institute is also dedicated to promoting gender equality and inclusivity in sports, with initiatives like the Army Girls Sports Company nurturing female talent in various sports disciplines.
The establishment of the AGSC promises to inspire and empower the next generation of female athletes, setting a robust foundation for future excellence in the field of sports. This significant initiative underscores the Indian Army’s commitment to fostering sports and athletic talent in the country.
