The Tamil Nadu Olympic Water Sports Academy at Piraapanvalasai in Ramanathapuram district is ready for inauguration. Spread over six acres, this Rs. 42.90-crore project has been built on an international standard and has facilities for water polo, artistic swimming, rowing, surfing, and sailing.

This part of the Ramanathapuram coastline is ideal for water sports as there is perfect wind and wave dynamics due to predictable wind patterns and gentle waves. This region is turning into a premium hub for kayak surfing and windsurfing. To capitalise on this and the fact that for more than five kms into the sea, it is shallow waters, thus providing the right and controlled environment for stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, and also for teaching beginners, the academy has been established.

Built in an eco-friendly manner, it provides hostel facilities for 40 boys and 40 girls. There are also 10 rooms for coaches. In water sports, coaches mostly guide from the shore. To facilitate this, the frontage of the building faces the sea with huge windows. It is a vantage point, from where the coaches can check on athletes through binoculars. They can also communicate with athletes instantly using the latest technology as the premises would be provided with internet access. There are also hi-tech classrooms for theory classes, where videos of each athlete would be analysed by the coaches, enabling the trainee to correct his defects.

Apart from changing rooms, yoga rooms and physiotherapy rooms, there is also a gazebo, a perfect place for athletes to unwind. According to District Sports Officer, Ramanathapuram, Dinesh Kumar, this academy has also been built keeping in mind that it would play host to many international players. “Water sports athletes often travel the world to follow seasonal swells and wind patterns in the ocean. For six months of the year, Piraapanvalasai enjoys very placid sea conditions. It is a copybook scenario for amateurs interested in riding the swell and for veterans to hone their skills. Apart from hosting world-class events, we also anticipate numerous foreign athletes who will come here to practice. The academy has been built with all the necessary infrastructure in place. We are hoping that in July Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will declare it open,” he adds.

Baskaran, who coaches local children in water sports, says this academy would be extremely helpful for sailing enthusiasts in the area. “It can be an apt platform to train and nurture native talents,” he adds. He also hopes that once the operations begin at the academy, the government will provide jobs for the local trainers.