Subodh Bhatnagar took charge of the SAI Eastern Centre on Wednesday. In an unprecedented step the sports ministry had asked the ministry of defence to send someone on deputation for the post of director at this centre, which for the past three years has been the worst SAI centre as per an
internal survey.
Bhatnagar is on a three-year term renewable every year. The 49-year-old, who is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, is a former Services Ranji Trophy skipper (1992-93), was in charge of Air Force sports board and was in the BCCI technical committee. Former director S Harmilapi retired in December, 2011. Roque Dias was to take charge from Harmilapi in July last year, but backed out citing personal reasons.