It’s world class!
Strap: With science, sensors & cookies, Bangalore’s NSSC powers India’s charge to 2028 LA Games & beyond
Blurb: From grassroot hopefuls to Olympic elites— if there’s one address Indian athletes trust, it’s this. So why fly to Europe when city has a world-class sporting factory in its own backyard? NSSC isn’t just producing athletes; it’s manufacturing medals
Byline: Sudipto Mullick
Bangalore’s best-kept secret is out — and it’s not a cafe or a microbrewery. It’s an 80-acre, muscle-and-sweat-soaked powerhouse where India’s finest athletes train, sweat, recover, and dream big – the city’s Netaji Subhas Southern Centre (NSSC) has undergone a jaw-dropping transformation under Sports Authority of India (SAI).
What was once a humble base is now India’s busiest and best sports hub, running National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) in athletics, hockey and volleyball, hosting camps in kabaddi, water polo and table tennis, and implementing SAI schemes across three states. With over Rs 140 crore poured into its revival, this arena of ambition is where India comes to train — and win.
‘It’s among world’s best’
Anju Bobby George, medal-winning athlete
She’s seen it all. Anju Bobby George, India’s first-ever athletics world medallist, returned to NSSC — her former training home — now as chairperson of the Athletics Federation of India. And the verdict? “I’ve trained across Europe and the US — but I can vouch, what we have here is among the world’s best,” she says.
And this wasn’t nostalgia talking. Anju was visibly thrilled as she toured the upgraded facility — now equipped with sensor-fitted smart tracks, biomechanics labs, elite recovery centres, and AI-powered athlete management systems.
“Back in 2005, we trained with basic facilities. Today, it’s a complete package. The change is real — and so are the results,” she said.
‘No other place has it all together’
Avinash Sable, national record-holding athlete
For Avinash Sable, India’s steeplechase star and national record holder, this is sacred ground. He first arrived here in 2017 — and hasn’t looked back. “Everything has changed — there are two tracks now, a proper recovery centre, physios, biomechanics, sports medicine. I’ve trained abroad — but no place has it all under one roof like this,” he says.
Sable, who regularly clocks personal bests after training stints here, swears by the ecosystem. “I always perform well after training here,” he smiled.
‘Sand track. scientific setup. game on’
Parul Chaudhary, steeplechase athlete
Local girl Parul Chaudhary, also a 3000m steeplechase regular, was cooling down after practice when we caught up with her. “We’ve got two tracks now — and even a sand track! The scientific support has gone up massively. It’s a big boost for us athletes,” says Parul.
She’s been here since 2016 and credits the centre for sharpening her game.
‘Such centres are critical’
PV Sindhu, Olympic medallist
Just then, in walked PV Sindhu — not for a match, but an isokinetic test to analyse her hip, knee, and shoulder strength. “My dad used to come here to play volleyball. Compared to then, this place has grown immensely. And the upgrades are still happening,” she tells Our Bangalore.
Sindhu noted that this centre has quietly supported several Indian greats — from the current men’s hockey team to Neeraj Chopra. “Such centres are critical for Indian sports,” she said.
‘Oxygen levels high; so is motivation’
Shivendra Singh, former national hockey player
The final word came from Shivendra Singh, the former India hockey star turned assistant coach. “When I come here, I don’t feel like stepping outside. The air, the greenery — it keeps you going. And the food? World-class,” says Shivendra.
Back in his day, hockey players shared a gym with athletes. “Now, they have a dedicated hockey recovery centre, sport-specific gyms, nutritionists, and even food-scientists working from a culinary R&D lab,” he adds.
BOX – 1
Energy Bars, Cookies & Custom Diets
Yup, this place has its own test kitchen. The centre is dishing out multi-grain cookies and fig-date energy bars tailored for Paris-bound Olympians. It even created 3,000 customised bars for para-athletes and designed audio-guided nutrition plans for the visually impaired.
BOX – 2
A Centre That Trains Both Mind and Muscle
Today, NSSC is more than just a training base. It’s a full-fledged high-performance lab with:
- Smart track & performance sensors
- Sport-specific gyms & rehab zones
- Sports psychology & mental conditioning support
- Nutrition labs and athlete-specific menus
- Academic programmes in 11 sports disciplines
- Camps in table tennis, kabaddi, race walking, and more