Bathinda’s endless wait for international hockey stadium : The Tribune India

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Bathinda’s endless wait for international hockey stadium

Photo for representational purpose only

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 22

An international hockey match at the Government Rajindra College international astroturf hockey stadium here remains a distant dream. In 2012, then Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of the stadium and had announced that an international hockey match would be organised within a year, but eight years have gone by and the venue still awaits such a contest.

Stone laid in 2012

Nowhere near world standards
No mini astroturf ground for practice sessions
No gym; changing rooms not up to the mark
No water connection, have to rely on RO plant connected with groundwater

The work on the stadium is far from complete, but the complex has already started showing signs of damage and wear and tear. Since the stadium is incomplete, it has not been officially inaugurated till now. Sukhbir had termed it his dream project in 2012, and it had to be completed by January 2013.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) team that visited in 2013 had okayed international status for the astroturf in the stadium on the condition that interlocking tiles were laid in the adjoining area so that the astroturf would remain dust-protected. This job, however, has not yet been done.

Besides, there are several other shortcomings. As per the architectural drawing of the stadium, a mini astroturf ground for warm-up and practice sessions also had to come up, but as yet there is no sign of it. There is also no gym and the changing rooms do not meet international standards.

Sources in the administration said the government had earmarked Rs 11 crore for the stadium, but now Rs 3 crore more was required for its completion.

The stadium does not have a water connection and has to depend on the RO plant connected with groundwater, which is unfit for human consumption. It also doesn’t have a power connection for the floodlights at the stadium.

Even though players play and practise here, organising an international match remains a distant dream due to lack of infrastructure as per the international standards.

Bathinda Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan said: “This matter is not in my notice and I will get it checked.” District Sports Officer Rupinder Singh maintained that for organising international and national matches, a lot of infrastructure was needed.

The complex was being used by the Punjab Institute of Sports’ girls hockey academy, and its players were doing very well at national and international levels, he added.