The State is getting ready to host the second South Asian (SA) Junior Athletics Championships at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium of Ranchi's Mega Sports Complex from November 10 to 12. It will be the second mega sports event to be hosted by Jharkhand after 34th National Games held in 2010.
Over 500 athletes along with 200 technical delegates are supposed to participate in the event. The State Government along with the organizer of the game i.e. Jharkhand Athletics Association (JAA) is engrossed with the initial preparations like inviting tenders, constituting management committees, selecting reliable officers, managing infrastructure glitches and other required necessities of the event, involving the budget of Rs 1.5 crore.
According to the update on Athletics Federation of India (AFI) website, eight Asian countries, including India are expected to take part in the championships. Other participating nations are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri lanka.
Earlier, the game was scheduled from September 28-29. Citing the cause of the delay, State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Geetashree Oraon on Wednesday told The Pioneer, "Pakistan and Afghanistan teams were unable to get visa so they requested us to consider to delay the event. On the other hand, Sri lankan team has some engagements from November 17-19. Considering these requests we re-scheduled the event."
The organiser has also planned to hold gala cultural events to mark the opening and closing ceremonies. "If there are star studded functions during opening and closing ceremonies then spectators usually come to watch them. To make it a total cultural affair, 90 minutes programme representing the Indian culture will be held during these ceremonies. Stalls of Jharcraft would be put up to showcase the tribal culture of this region," added the Minister.
Highlighting the preparatory exercises, JAA president Madhukant Pathak said that four tenders, invited for food arrangement, housekeeping, procurement along with opening and closing ceremonies, are likely to be finalized on Thursday. Notably, the first two tenders inviting proposal for management of opening and closing ceremonies as well as for supply of sports uniform for technical officials, volunteers and blazers for organizing committee members were floated on October 9.
"Meanwhile, the State Government has removed director, sports, Ashok Kumar department, blaming him for the pathetic condition of the athletic stadium," said a government official.
Explaining more the official said, "Despite having proper electricity arrangements at Hotwar's Mega Sports Complex, lights from the entire area went off during the felicitation ceremony of 53rd edition of the National Open Athletics Championships on September 10 in the presence of state and national athletics officers. Noticing this mismanagement, former deputy director of welfare department Gagan Kumar Choubey has been chosen as the new director".
"A special meeting of all the SA sub-committee deployed members, JAA and State Sports department is scheduled on October 21 or 22," the official said. Ironically, Kumar inspected the Athletics Stadium on Wednesday related to the preparation but denied to speak anything over his visit. Speaking over the new director's appointment, Geetashree said, "The New Director has been appointed and will joinon Thursday."
JAA has planned to accommodate the international athletes at the Khelgaon flats. "We have already discussed about the security provisions with Superintendent of Police at Khelgaon exclusively for the foreign players during this tournament," Pathak said. However, Geetashree expressed her concern on not getting the full charge of acquiring these vacant flats, duplex flats and VIP guest houses from the authorities till now.