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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: April 24: The President of Karnala Sports Academy, Panvel Mr Vivekanand Patil, MLA (popularly known as Vivek Patil) is full of enthusiasm, determined to make Panvel a "Players city" in near future. With MLC Manda Mhatre directing some considerable funds towards it, one can quite believe that Mr Patil will make his dream come true. Excerpts of an interview :

Vashi2Panvel: How did you conceive the idea of setting up the Karnala Sports Academy in Panvel?
Vivek Patil: We all know about our earlier poor performance in Asiad and Olympics. If we properly guide childrens giving necessary facilities to them, they can also bring wonderful results. As such we thought to do something in this direction. In Panvel there are some ex-sportsmen of National and International fame like Vijay Mhatre, Gopinath Patil etc. When they look back and think about the poor facilities they had, during the beginning of their career, they feel sad and think they would have done even better if received better support and facilities during their childhood.

There are many more people with with a positive thinking here, who wish to encourage young generation registering themselves in this academy and working voluntarily for this great cause. Initially when I planned this project with a budget of 50 crores, few people laughed at me calling mad, and suggested to start a factory or some industry so that it can generate some earnings. However I determined to work in this direction not for the sake of money. My focus was to develop more and more players, with a dream to send them for Olympics where they can earn medals for our country. I am getting co-operation from wellwishers in terms of money, efforts , moral support and what not.

We have not taken a single coin from the Government, while the work around 6 to 7 crore is completed. Raigad District bank have given around one crore. Reliance is also helping us. Manda Mhatre (MLC) has given 25 Lakhs from her MLA funds (aamdaar nidhi) exclusively for a shooting range which is towards completion, inside this complex. The total expenses on the shooting range shall be to the tune of 1.25 Crore. This shooting range shall be extremely useful for sports champion like Shuma Shurul of this locality who scored 12th position in the last Olympics. Now you can imagine that after regularly practicing in the shooting range of her own area here, will it be difficult for her to win a Gold Medal in next Olympics? The civil work for this shooting range is almost over, and within a month it will be inaugurated and people will start practicing here.

Vashi2Panvel:What are other projects taken up in this complex?
Vivek Patil: One swimming pool is also almost ready, made at the cost of two crores, shall be inaugurated on 15th May. The first floor of a building giving facilities for indoor games is also ready. Remaining three floors of this building shall be completed soon, and the total expenditure on this shall be around 4 to 5 Crore. Good work is always supported and appreciated by people. After completion of all this our dreams will come out true and Panvel shall be popular as "Players' City".

Vashi2Panvel: The amount of craze you have towards sports, shows that you might be also a good player. Is it correct?
Vivek Patil: Yes, I was a sportsman during my schools and college days spending most of my time at playgrounds, however I have not participated in any national or international events.

Umesh Malviya