Pune has always been a beacon of higher education and, of late, a thriving hub of IT, business, and real estate. However, there is another feather in its cap that’s privy to few, and it’s the longstanding sports culture of this city. Each and every prominent sports academy in Pune is gearing up to produce the next generation of sports stars in diverse fields.
Give this guide a quick read to find out which sports academy in Pune is right for your future goals.
Top 10 Sports Academies in Pune
Deccan Gymkhana Sports Academy
If your goal is to be a future cricket, tennis, or badminton star, then one sports academy in Pune that you should consider joining is the Deccan Gymkhana Sports Academy at Shivaji Nagar. Established in 1906, this sports academy has training facilities like clay tennis courts, cricket nets, badminton courts, and a gym. The coaching fee is around ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 per month, so it’s in the affordable range. The venue is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., every day of the week.
PYC Hindu Gymkhana
Aiming for state or national-level tournaments in tennis or table tennis? PYC Hindu Gymkhana at Bhandarkar Road is one sports academy in Pune that may help you make your dream come true. Founded in 1906, the academy specialises in cricket, tennis, and table tennis and has training facilities like synthetic courts, a cricket ground, and a gym. This academy is ideal for beginners and advanced trainees and has a fee of ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 per month. The venue is open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day.
Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
A training facility for future Olympians—that’s precisely what this government-owned sports complex is. This multi-sport training ground at Balewadi offers swimming, shooting, athletics, wrestling, and tennis lessons to athletes who want to compete in various Olympic games. To hone the skills of the athletes, this sports complex has an Olympic-size pool, track & field, shooting range, and indoor stadiums. Depending on the sport, the coaching fee starts from ₹800 per month. The venue is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pune District Football Association Academy
One sports academy in Pune that offers a real shot at success to future football stars of India is the Pune District Football Association Academy at Dobarwadi. Established in 2001, this AIFF-affiliated academy provides grassroots to elite football training. The academy has full-size turfs, video analysis, fitness and recovery zones for athletes, and the coaching fee is around ₹1,200 to ₹2,500 per month. The academy regularly hosts state-level selections and age-group leagues, so joining this academy may present you with new opportunities.
Nikhil Kanetkar Badminton Academy
If you want to concentrate on becoming a badminton champion in the future, then the best sports academy in Pune for you to consider is Nikhil Kanetkar Badminton Academy. Established in 2011 at Kharadi by Olympian Nikhil Kanetkar, this academy has wooden courts, a fitness studio, and physiotherapy support to help players focus on developing discipline, stamina, and technique. The coaching fee is around ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 per month. The venue is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays.
Fergusson College Ground
Interested in getting training in athletics, football, or hockey? Fergusson College Ground is one place you can aim for. The venue has a 400 m track, a football field, and a sports hostel. The coaching fee is quite reasonable—between ₹1,000 and ₹2,000 per month, so you don’t have to break the bank to get yourself ready for national and international sports events. To get more information about the timings for trainings, it’s best to check the college’s official timetable or contact the relevant coordinators.
Just Cricket Academy
With former Ranji players as coaches, Just Cricket Academy offers a wonderful opportunity for cricket aspirants who want to prepare for district and national levels. Established in 2008 and located in Hadapsar, the academy has bowling machines, turf wickets, and video analysis facilities to help players hone their skills. The coaching fee is around ₹2,500 to ₹4,000 per month. The venue is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. If you’re aiming to be a future cricket star, this place is one sports academy in Pune that might help you achieve your goal.
Dilip Vengsarkar Cricket Academy
Established in 2008 at Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, this academy specialises in cricket coaching. It has full-size turf pitches and dedicated coaching grounds, multiple professional coaches, including former India players, indoor/outdoor nets, changing facilities, and free kits for selected players. So far, it has trained ~150 players daily across U-14, U-16, and U-19 levels. It’s best to contact the academy to get more information about the coaching fee. The academy is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.
Sai Skating Academy
For those of you who loved to roller skate as a kid and now want to take it up as a career, one sports academy in Pune that will help you with your plan is Sai Skating Academy at Baner. Established in 2012 at Baner, this academy offers beginner to advanced skating lessons in speed, inline, and artistic forms. To help you with your training, the academy has a skating rink, protective gear, and speed and artistic programmes. The coaching fee is between ₹1,000 and ₹2,200 per month.
Krida Prabodhini Academy
Established in 1994 at Shivaji Nagar, this Maharashtra government-run academy trains athletes in areas like athletics, gymnastics, and wrestling. The academy has training facilities like a high-performance gym, wrestling mats, and athletic tracks. Athletes trained at this academy compete at state and national championships. Moreover, the coaching fee is subsidised under the government scheme, so you can join the academy without worrying too much about the financial burden. The academy is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day except on Sundays.
How to Choose the Best Sports Academy in Pune?
Choosing the best sports academy in Pune entails that you first select the sport that you want to pursue seriously. Pune has a plethora of cricket, tennis, football, and other sports training academies that you can consider joining. You also need to look into the track record of the coaches—check out if they have any experience training athletes for national and international tournaments.
Next, you have to evaluate the training infrastructure—equipment, physiotherapy, and fitness training support. A decent sports academy should provide these basic necessities to players.
Location is also an important factor while choosing a sports academy in Pune. If you need to commute long distances to reach your training centre, then it might affect the consistency of your training. Opting for an academy that’s close to your residence can help cut down on travel time and leave you with more energy to focus on the training.
Finally, the coaching fee is one factor that you need to take into account while enrolling for a training programme. If the fee is too much, consider switching academies. Check if there are scholarships or sponsorship opportunities or if the coaching fee is subsidised by the government, which will go a long way to help you with getting the sports training that you seek.
How Much Does Sports Training Cost in Pune?
The cost of sports training depends on the type of sport and the quality of the sports academy in Pune. For recreational training for sports like football or skating, the coaching fee can be in the range of ₹800 to ₹1,500 per month. However, if you opt for popular sports like cricket or tennis, the fee may jump to ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per month.
For athletics or gymnastics that require specialised trainers, dieticians, and physiotherapists, the coaching fee can be as high as ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month. While these sports academies in Pune do charge a lot of money, there are government-backed sports academies like the Krida Prabodhini Academy that offer high-performance training at subsidised rates and sometimes even for free, based on merit. Add to the coaching fee training equipment, sports kits, and the cost of commuting to the venue; also, the cost of commuting to the venue needs to be taken into account while calculating training cost.
Summary
Whether you want to pursue cricket, football, athletics, or racquet sports, at a professional or recreational level, there are several sports academies in Pune that will help you achieve your goals. These training centres come with varying degrees of available facilities and experienced coaches. While the coaching fee may be moderate to high in many of the facilities, there are government-run sports academies that provide world-class training at subsidised rates. Pune provides sports training opportunities in diverse fields, so you can choose the sport that you’re passionate about and join an academy that sets you up for future success.
FAQs About Sports Academies in Pune
Q. Which is the best sports academy in Pune for cricket training?
The best sports academy in Pune for cricket training has to be the PYC Hindu Gymkhana and Just Cricket Academy. These training facilities offer turf wickets, expert coaching, and performance tracking to help players get better at their game and ready them for district and state-level tournaments. While PYC is known for its legacy, Just Cricket provides modern training tools and match practice to aspiring cricketers.
Q. Are there sports academies in Pune that focus on football?
Yes, there is. The AIFF-affiliated Pune District Football Association Academy is the best sports academy in Pune for football coaching. The academy offers programmes for different age groups and also hosts district-level tournaments on a regular basis. The coaching fee at this academy is around ₹1,200 to ₹2,500 per month, and the academy is located at Dobarwadi.
Q. How to select the right sports academy near me in Pune?
To select the right sports academy in Pune, you must first choose the sport that you want to pursue seriously. Whether it’s football, cricket, badminton, or tennis, there are several sports academies that specialise in providing training in these fields. While choosing a training centre, you also need to take into account the commuting time, as it may hamper your training consistency.
Q. Do these academies provide training for national-level competitions?
Yes, there are quite a few academies that provide training for national-level championships. For instance, Krida Prabodhini, Balewadi Sports Complex, and NKBA prepare players for district, state, and national-level competitions. They have structured programmes to help players get ready for tournaments. Apart from that, sometimes, these academies help players get scholarships and sponsorships as well.
Q. Are there academies in Pune that focus on athletics?
Yes, there are sports academies in Pune that focus on athletics. For example, Fergusson College and Krida Prabodhini Academy have proper tracks and professional coaches who train athletes in sprints, jumps, and throws. Furthermore, the Balewadi Sports Complex also has training facilities for track and field sports.
Q. Which sport is famous in Pune?
Cricket is by far the most popular sport in Pune. There are several sports academies in Pune that offer professional cricket coaching. However, other sports like tennis, badminton, and athletics are also gaining ground in Pune. A number of sports academies are offering professional training in these sports and helping players compete in district, state, and national championships.
Q. Which is the famous sports academy in India?
The most famous sports academy in India is the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala. However, if you are curious to learn about the most famous sports academy in Pune, that would be Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex. This sports academy has produced many national and international-level athletes across diverse disciplines. However, there are also other sports academies that have world-class training facilities and are attracting aspiring athletes.
