The Indian Navy inaugurated its premier Naval Sailing Node at Upper Lake, widely known as Bhojtal, in Bhopal on Sunday, 17 May, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, in the presence of senior officials from the defence forces and civil administration, along with NCC cadets and students.
To mark the occasion, more than 30 naval personnel from INWTC Visakhapatnam and the Navy Rowing, Kayaking and Canoeing teams presented a sail parade, along with kayaking, canoeing and rowing displays.
The ministry said watermanship training has long been an integral part of the training and development of naval personnel, helping build camaraderie and competitive spirit in their primary domain of operation.
Developed as a state-of-the-art facility, the Naval Sailing Node will be used extensively by the Indian Navy Sailing Team, the Navy Rowing, Canoeing and Kayaking Teams, and the NCC for training.
According to the ministry, 17 members of the Navy Sailing Team, out of a total strength of 34 personnel, are from Madhya Pradesh.
The facility aims to encourage more youth from Madhya Pradesh to take up competitive water sports and inspire them to join the Defence Forces.
The initiative is also linked to the broader objective of building world-class sporting talent for events such as the Olympics and Asian Games.
The ministry said the facility aligns with the objectives of the National Sports Policy by promoting sporting excellence and expanding the talent pool in competitive sports.
Images shared with the release showed sailing boats on Bhojtal, the inauguration venue marked as the Naval Sailing Node Bhopal, and naval personnel participating in the ceremony and water-sport displays.
