For the first time, a National Athletics meet has gathered 1,055 athletes and 155 technical officials from 31 sports units of India. The information was disclosed by Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Secretary CK Valson during the inauguration of the four day 53rd National Open Athletics Championships at the State capital’s Mega Sports Complex, Hotwar.
“It is a good sign that like this National Meet, Jharkhand Government has accepted our proposal of conducting the 2nd Junior South Asian Federation (SAF) Athletics Championship scheduled from September 28-29 in a short notice,” Valson said.
The opening ceremony attended by Development Commissioner AK Sarkar as Chief Guest, Chief Athletics Indian Coach Bahadur Singh, State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Vandana Dadel, Director Ashok Kumar, Jharkhand Athletics Association (JAA) and Jharkhand Olympic Association officials was made worthy with the march past of the participants and band party presentation of local school girls.
Announcing the opening of the game he denoted that hosting the mega programme is a pride for the entire State. He said, “It is our responsibility to search the sports talent who are still not visible by our concerned department people.”
“I hope AFI Secretary always encourages us to host such sports programmes,” said JAA Chairman KK Soan. The finals of eight athletics events were held on the first day followed with six heats and four qualifying athletic events.
Among these events, nationally acclaimed 5000 Meter Runner Preeja Sreedharan and long Jumper MA Prajusha bagged the silver and gold medals respectively.
Though the fooding and accommodation facilities are better than that of 25th East Zone Junior Athletics Championships held here in August but technical officials of various government institutions complained of lack of tea facilities within the stadium.
“Ab toh bina janta ke khelne ki aadat ho gayi hain (Now we are habituated of playing without spectators), echoed a senior male athlete from the Police department team. This scene is something not new for the game of athletics in India. But, obviously not the same for national games like Cricket and Hockey.
Another senior female player from New Delhi informed that in the nation’s Capital there are still countable civilians to witness the game but in other States they are hardly anyone except the sportspersons to cheer us.
Though for namesake the state sports authorities made it sure that Sports Authority of India (SAI) Jharkhand Centre’s students watch each and every minute step of their learning athletic event.
Neelam Kumari, a SAI Jharkhand’s High Jump Player who was here on Saturday said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to learn the tricks used by national players. It will help me attain new skills.”
“As always spectators from the local area are visible only during opening and closing ceremony. We are accustomed of such partial behaivour. What matters is our performance and not the people to watch us,” said a 800 Metres runner from Madhya Pradesh.
Shehnaz, a 4 x 100 rally player from the same state said, “This is the story from state to nationals. In international level, our game still has a request.”