Jharkhand Athletics Association (JAA) has shown keen interest in hosting this year’s Junior South Asian Federation (SAF) Athletics Championship at Ranchi from September end to October first week. JAA has submitted a proposal related to this to the State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs department on July 15 following the decision of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on July 8 at Pune.
After losing the fortune of hosting two international sports tournaments namely, South Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships and 20th Asian Athletic Championship, this would be the third attempt of JAA to express the desire for such game host circling an expenditure of Rs two crores.
According to JAA officials, due to state government’s reservations, they had to undergo an awkward phase during the 20th Asian Athletics Championships held at Pune in July first week.
“Around Eight Asian countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Sri lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal comprising 500 athletes with 200 Technical Delegates scheduled for five days are supposed to participate in this event. Though Sports Secretary Vandana Dadel and Director Ashok Kumar have assured us to give a confirmation but nothing can be finalized unless the state government gives us a final consent over this matter,” said JAA Secretary Madhu Kant Pathak.
Selection Committee members of JAA need government’s support mainly for allotting proper security to the foreign players. Pathak said, “Due to absence of a popular government, we failed to host the last two national sport events. But, now when the government is formed, we require government’s support for funds and security necessities for the entire game and its players.”
The JAA officials have requested the state government to hold SAF games around November 15, marked as Jharkhand’s foundation day. Taking action on the instructions of Chief Secretary RS Sharma on July 16 to promote the state on both international and national sports arenas, the players cum officers at the State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs are working hard to conduct this game at any cost.
As of now, JAA is all set to organize east Zone Junior Athletics Championship from August 17 to 19 and 53rd National Open Athletics Championships from September 7 to 10 at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium in Khelgaon. In order to host these two events, JAA needs a budget of Rs 40 lakhs.
“JAA has appealed Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce (FJCCI) members to sponsor one out of the 160 medal ceremonies during these two events by donating Rs 5000. We have also approached Corporate Houses like Central Coalfields India limited and Kolkata based agencies to sponsor and promote the cause,” Pathak said.
Keeping the framed budget in consideration, JAA has requested Director Ashok Kumar to take minimum hiring charge of Khelgaon play ground which sums around Rs Eight lakhs.
Stating on the hope of improved infrastructure at Khelgaon prior to SAF games, Pathak conceded, “Our prime focus is supervising the technical aspects like ground facilities, accommodation and transportation provisions. The two upcoming national tournaments will help us in developing the infrastructure required for SAF. As far as, accommodation is concerned, official records say there are 150 flats at Khelgaon used during 34th National Games which are vacant and can be used for SAF.”
