Ahmedabad (Gujarat)[India], May 20 (ANI): Vineel Krishna, Joint Secretary, Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), visited Ahmedabad's Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF) and held a meaningful discussion with VBF directors and senior staff members on the future of sports development in India.

Vineel Krishna, who had earlier served as Principal Secretary of the Sports and Youth Services Department (DSYS) in Odisha, had played a significant role in establishing Odisha as a prominent sports hub in India. He was instrumental in Odisha successfully hosting the FIH Men's Hockey World Cups in 2018 and 2023, making it the first state in the country to host consecutive Hockey World Cups.

During his visit, he had a detailed conversation with VBF members on strengthening athlete pathways, building structured development systems, and creating a unified vision for Indian sport from grassroots to elite performance, said a release.

VBF also had a conversation regarding the broader role of SAI, the current sporting ecosystem, and the collaborative efforts required to strengthen India's international sporting performance, with particular focus being placed on the development of athlete pathways and support required for peak performance at the international level.

During his visit, Krishna also observed a live fencing practice session and engaged in discussions regarding pathways to further strengthen and grow sport development initiatives and toured the High-Performance Centre (HPC), including VBF's hydrotherapy facilities, which he deeply appreciated and encouraged VBF to continue its ongoing efforts.

VBF also shared its long-term vision for collaborative support systems that can help athletes thrive at every stage of their journey and expressed gratitude for the insights and encouragement that were provided by the Joint Secretary. (ANI)