Indian Navy opens premier sailing training node at Bhopal’s Bhojtal to boost water sports and youth participation
Bhopal. The Indian Navy on May 17 inaugurated a state-of-the-art Naval Sailing Node at Upper Lake, popularly known as Bhojtal, in Bhopal, creating a new hub for watermanship training and competitive water sports.
The facility was inaugurated by Chief of the Naval Staff Dinesh K Tripathi in the presence of senior defence and civil officials, NCC cadets and students. Marking the occasion, over 30 naval personnel from the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre, Visakhapatnam, along with Navy teams specialising in rowing, kayaking and canoeing, staged an impressive sail parade and water sports display on the lake.
Watermanship has long been a core component of naval training, fostering teamwork, endurance and operational skill among personnel in their primary maritime environment. The new Sailing Node is designed to further strengthen this tradition by providing modern infrastructure for the Indian Navy Sailing Team as well as its rowing, canoeing and kayaking contingents. The facility will also be used by the National Cadet Corps for training activities.
Notably, nearly half of the Navy Sailing Team’s current members hail from Madhya Pradesh, underscoring the state’s growing contribution to naval water sports. Officials said the facility is expected to encourage more youth from the region to take up competitive water sports and consider careers in the armed forces.
The initiative aligns with the national push to nurture sporting excellence and broaden the talent base for international competitions such as the Olympics and Asian Games, in line with the objectives of India’s National Sports Policy.
