Chandigarh: Hockey nationals on, display screens off; organisers to go for manual setup

Even as the city is hosting the 14th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men National Championship for the first time, the display screens at the Sector 42 Sports Complex remain non-functional, giving players a tough time to track the match timing, scores and sometimes to watch the video assistant referee (VAR) calls.

Advertisement

Sources claimed that the cost to repair each screen is estimated to be somewhere around Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 crore, and a proposal has been sent to the Engineering Department for approving purchase of some compact LED screens. The Sector 42 sports complex has the provision of two screens behind the two goal posts, which have been dysfunctional for years now. The story of Sector 16 Cricket Stadium is no different, where the screen has been non-functional for a long period.

“We will introduce a manual system on the sidelines to update the scores and match timings, so that the players can see the board during the matches. The cost of repairing the screen is unbearable and getting special LEDs for the same purpose will cost high, considering we are a sports association. So, we will be having a manual system from tomorrow,” said Anil Vohra, Secretary, Hockey Chandigarh. “Providing facilities to the players is our top priority and we will be doing it without any hesitation. A manual board will be set up to give the real time update to the players during their matches,” said Karan Gilhotra, president, Hockey Chandigarh.

A source in the Sports Department added, “These screens are of no use as they operate only once or twice a year. It cost crores of rupees to maintain their wear and tear. The best possible way is to have a number of LEDs spread across the stadium, for which the Engineering Department has already been taken into the loop.”

The Sector 42 sports complex was constructed in 1988 on a 90-acre site and the astroturf hockey stadium has a capacity of adjusting around 30,000 spectators. The department recently spent over Rs 50 lakh to give this arena a facelift, which benefited the local association in hosting the nationals.