Thursday 26 July, 2007

Maharashtra Meet in June 2008


B D Narayankar
bapun@sakalherald.com

PUNE: Even as the city is gearing up for the Commonwealth Youth Games in October 2008, K P Singh Deo, chairman of the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) announced that the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City would host Inter-State competitions to test the facilities in the run-up to the multi-discipline sports extravaganza. Speaking to reporters after the GTCC meeting on Tuesday, Deo said he was satisfied with the ongoing construction work at the sports complex. “The construction work is expected to finish well before the scheduled time. Of course, the monsoons have made things easy for us,” he said.He said the Inter-State meet would be held sometime in June-July next year. “I say with confidence that that the sports complex will be up and running to conduct Inter-State Competitions in nine different disciplines next year,” he exuded hope.Deo further announced that with the help of Balbir Singh Bhatia, former secretary general, weightlifting association, the complex would also host Junior and Youth Asian competitions in August 2008, before Commonwealth Youth Games.He also took the opportunity to reveal that if Delhi failed to have the facilities ready for conducting the world badminton championship on time, Pune could get the nod to hold the event next year," Deo said.The GTCC chairman said the facilities coming up at the sports complex would be of the top-draw. “The complex will have state-of-the-art facility for conducting 17 different disciplines along with residential complexes,” he added.AVN Prasad, federation representative, told that AFI was working hard towards providing technical assistance to spectators and participants to make Commonwealth Youth Games a howling success. The federation has already set in motion the process of training to upgrade the skills of technical officials. “We are leaving no stone unturned to provide latest sports and electronic equipments for participants for improving their performances,” Prasad added.Suggested BoxDeo rues non-release of funds
Ringing a warning bell, GTCC chairman K P Singh Deo rued that if the central government failed to release Rs 330 crore every year for training athletes to prepare them for 2010 Commonwealth Games at New Delhi, India could ran the danger of slipping down from fourth position to a lowly ninth, in the overall medals tally.The announcement regarding release of funds was made in 2005 and as of yet the government had not released a single penny. “I urge the authorities concerned to release the amount every year,” he added.Asked if the government did not release the amount, Deo said they would spend money from the exchequer of the federation or would seek corporate help. But he mentioned the lackdaisical attitude of the corporate houses in this regard.

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