Sports Reporter
JAMMU: The security agencies have taken over the control of the sports hub of MA Stadium making the place out of bound for players. For entire month of January, the facility will remain closed for sports thus causing hardships to the trainees in the disciplines of Athletics, Fencing, Cricket and Kabaddi.
The J&K State Sports Council (JKSSC) handed over the Stadium Complex to the security agencies by completing the formality of issuing orders for make shift arrangements on 30th December. While three major games of athletics, fencing and cricket have been shifted to already overburdened Green Field ground, Gandhi Nagar, here, the Kabaddi discipline is yet to get any direction. “The officers concerned have made appropriate arrangements for uninterrupted practice sessions for the effected games considering the availability at different venues outside the MA Stadium Complex. I hope players do not face any difficulty in their regular practice,” said Joint Secretary of the State Sports Council, Shiv Kumar Sharma.
Already overburdened with football, hockey, kho-kho, kabaddi and korfball, the management at the park turned play field may not be able to do justice with all these disciplines.
“It is unjustified on part of the JKSSC to set up training centres for eight major disciplines at one play field. The sports organisation (JKSSC) lacks basic sense of training. These games should have been shifted to better facilities available with University of Jammu (JU), but I think the Sports Council has failed in their efforts to explore the possibilities in advance,” said, Ravi Kant.
When contacted Divisional Sports Officer, Rajan Sharma, who has gone to Poonch to supervise the special camps under Khelo India said, “We have shifted cricket, athletics and fencing at Green Field Ground, Gandhi Nagar from MA Stadium. Alternative arrangements for other games of volleyball, basketball, kabaddi and handball will be made later on.” When asked specifically about kabaddi, basketball and volleyball games, Sharma said, “These games will continue because the training centres for such events are outside the seized main venue of MA Stadium by the security agencies.” However, on a visit to the Stadium, it was found that the newly constructed Kabaddi coaching facility has already been locked by the security men thus contradicting the claims of the Divisional Officer.
