L S Ranawat, who has been associated with Sports Authority of India for the last 29 years, has taken voluntary retirement from the post of Executive Director, Academics, SAI.
Ranawat, who has been the head of the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports here for the last nine years, was given farewell by the officers, staff and students of the institute here today.
He is likely to join as the first Vice-Chancellor of newly established Rajasthan Sports University, Jhunjhunu at his home state.
Ranawat has served SAI in various capacities for about 29 years.
Before joining the NIS in February, 2004, he had served as the head of SAI Regional Centres at Gandhinagar and Bangalore and also held the additional charge of the SAI Operation Division and SAI Northern Centre, Chandigarh.
During his tenure at the NIS, he laid great stress on development of infrastructure for sports activities.
He took special care about the organization of national coaching camps and under his leadership, elite sportspersons, trained at the Institute, had made significant contribution to the Indian medal tally, at Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympics.
Ranawat also made significant contribution towards the cadre restructuring of SAI, and laying down of the norms for the sports promotion schemes of SAI as chairman of Committees.
He was also instrumental in the implementation of the scheme of recruitment of Olympians as coaches in SAI.
S S Roy, Regional Director, will now take over the charge of NIS Patiala on October 31.
