The Sports Authority of India (SAI) will develop a National Centre of Excellence or a sports hub in Cooch Behar and has sought 25 acres of “flat land” from the Bengal government, Nisith Pramanik, the Union minister of state for home affairs and sports, said here on Monday.

“SAI has initiated necessary communication with the state government for the land. We hope the state cooperates,” said Pramanik, also the MP of Cooch Behar.

SAI functions under the Union sports ministry.

As of now, the authority is running such a centre of excellence in Calcutta where training is provided in the fields of archery, gymnastics, table tennis, athletics and hockey. Also, it runs four training centres in Lebong (Darjeeling), Jalpaiguri, Bolpur and Burdwan.

Last month, Sandeep Pradhan, the director-general of SAI, sent a letter to H.K. Dwivedi, the Bengal chief secretary, on plans to set up another centre of excellence after the one in Calcutta in Cooch Behar.