Sorry tale of sports in Jammu
JAMMU: Fully focused on building concrete structures, the present set of administration in the autonomous sports body of J and K State Sports has left the whole lot of sportspersons, sweating out in the winter capital, in distress.
The discouraging attitude of the concerned individuals made the hub of sports in Jammu, the MA Stadium give a deserted look. There hardly exists any administrative set-up in the present hierarchy what to talk of needed infrastructure and encouragement to the athletics visiting the prominent venues.
It was surprising to find that three senior athletics coaches have been posted by the Sports Council at the single training centre with over 100 regular trainees to learn the basics. However, there was hardly any equipment worth practice at the disposal of these future athletes.
Last time the Sports Council had made purchases of athletics equipments was way back in eighties with the results most of these stocks have become obsolete and outdated. And, finding it difficult to hold back these stocks, the State Sports Council recently auctioned most of the material.
“Leave a side the costly equipments, the Sports Council even failed to maintain the existing 400 meters track to practice on. Athletes find it difficult to differentiate between the actual track and the cricket ground,” said an athletes pleading not to be quoted.
The high jump and hurdles set up has been sold out in a recently held auction for the aging sports goods while concrete ring meant for shot put and discuss has been damaged during all these years of neglect.
“Such an atmosphere at the hub of sports in Jammu surely discourages the talented athletes to enroll for the coaching. Despite poor facilities at the ground level, a good number of young boys and girls come for regular training,” expressing his concern one of the coaches told.
Adding he said, “It has been heard through media that the government has planned to establish a synthetic athletics track at Bakshi Stadium. We want similar facility for the Jammu athletes too at the MA Stadium.”
