Astroturf to come up at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula

Deepankar Sharda

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19

The Haryana Sports Department’s decision to buy astroturf for Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector 3, has affected the UT’s chances of hosting hockey matches during the upcoming Khelo India Games.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs had chosen Haryana (Panchkula) for hosting the 4th edition of the Khelo India Games. The championship is slated to start from November 21 and, unlike last year, it will be conducted only for the U-18 category.

After the announcement, the Haryana Government had unofficially mentioned using facilities at Chandigarh for hosting the games.

Sources said it was decided to host the matches for boys’ hockey at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium, followed by disciplines such as badminton, football and others.

However, the sources said the plan had now been dropped and most of the events would take place at the Sector 3 venue, including hockey tourney.

“The schedule and matches venue has not been decided yet. However, most of the events will take place in Panchkula. Earlier, it was decided to conduct hockey matches at the Sector 42 Sports Complex, but amid political slugfest, things have changed now. The department is preparing to host a majority of the events in Panchkula,” said a source.

“Questions have been raised over shifting hockey matches to Chandigarh, despite Astroturf fields at various many other districts of Haryana. In order to end this, the department has decided to put a new Astroturf field at Panchkula. The work will start next month and will be completed in four months,” said the source. He said the department was thinking on creating a facility for bio-bubble, if needed.

New warm-up tracks

One of the sources revealed that a team from Delhi had recently visited the Sector 3 stadium and raised the need for having a warm-up athletics track. “The team suggested having a warm-up area for athletes. The same has been planned and will be made constructed,” he added.