Sports Reporter
JAMMU: Around 2,000 young trainees across 14 disciplines attending the coaching classes at indoor games Complex have been sent on undeclared week-long holidays by the J and K State Sports Council (JKSSC) after security forces locked the office of the Manager Indoor Complex, MA Stadium, here on Monday. Fully aware of the action initiated by the security agencies looking after the preparations of the Republic Day function at MA Stadium, the JKSSC on the other hand failed to provide alternate venues to the aspiring sportspersons including those who were preparing for the national level competitions. “It is a matter of days. The officer (security) concerned has assured us that the indoor complex shall be made function the very next day of the Republic Day function, i.e. 27th January,” Sports Officer of the JKSSC, Rajan Sharma said. However, it has been reliably learnt that that indoor complex as also the main MA Stadium will be unlocked by the security agencies only after 29th January. The coaching centres effected by the closure of indoor complex included popular disciplines of skating, badminton, basketball, handball, judo, rythemic gymnastics, volleyball, boxing, billiards and snooker and taekwondo as also wushu and table tennis.
“It is a routine exercise by the security forces looking after the arrangements for Republic Day function. But, what the JKSSC has done with regard to alternate arrangements. They understand the ground realities, so there should have been advance preparations for uninterrupted coaching sessions at some alternate venue,” pleading anonymity a senior coach said. Important to mention here that the main coaching centre of MA Stadium, catering to the needs of major sporting events of cricket, athletics, fencing, kabaddi and wrestling, have already been closed.
