With just four days left for hosting the 2nd South Asian Federation (SAF) Junior Athletics Championships at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, sports authority of Jharkhand members can be noticed working on war footing level at the entire Khelgaon complex.
labourers are cleaning the stadium seating arena with bleaching powder while some are setting up beds and quilts at the Khelgaon flats where the participating athletes would be lodged.
To depict the State’s culture, local artists selected for cultural performances at the opening ceremony scheduled on November 10 evening were seen rehearsing at the stadium premises. As about 1000 artists divided into groups of 100-150 team members will be presenting chhau, manbhum, karsa, paika, Santhali dances.
Under the aegis of renowned classical state dancer Nandlal Nayak and Vipul Nayak, a fusion dance combining contemporary and Kathak will also be showcased. Nayak said, “We hope to glorify our state’s culture across the globe with this SAF games.”
However, staffs from department of energy are still working at the electric repairing of the entire stadium area. “The power cut-off during the valedictory session of 53rd National Open Athletics Championship in September here has earned a bad name for our state. Hopefully, the repairing
will be done by the inaugural day,” a guard here said.
Adding further he said, “CCTV cameras are not working after the 34th National Games held in February 2011. At present, we have no clue whether it will be repaired or not.”
A female guard at Khelgaon residential complex said, “Security of the international players is to be done by police personnel. But, still none of the police staff is deployed.”
College students from various districts of the state arrived on Wednesday. “We will be assisting the international athletes from the game zone to their room,” said Rajkumar, an undergraduate student from KCB College, Bero. Notably, artists and volunteers are accommodated at the hostel of this complex.
Eight nations including India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri lanka are to contest in this international sports programme.
Jharkhand Athletics Association (JAA) President Madhukant Pathak informed that four athletes of Indian team arrived today. “Remaining Indian players are expected to reach by Friday. Pakistan team is reaching on November 9. All the others are reaching by November 10,” he said.
Technical officials from Athletics Federation of India too reached the state capital on Wednesday. According to a JAA officer they are accommodated at best hotels of the city like Radisson Blu and Holiday Inn.