Chandigarh: Two years on, state-run sports academies await equipment

Deepankar Sharda

Chandigarh, July 13

Over two years have passed but the UT Sports Department is yet to provide equipment to the players of the state-run academies of cricket, hockey and football.

The hockey academy last received the goalkeepers’ kit in 2018 and sticks in 2019. The cricket academy last got their equipment in 2019, the same as the football academy. The coaches concerned are tight-lipped about the delay, while officials refused to comment on the issue.

What official says

Advertisement

The academies had remained shut for two years. The process to restart purchasing has taken a longer time than expected. An official

The academies, which had remained shut for almost two years due to the Covid pandemic, started activities last September. The players were recently given tracksuits and shoes before they left for Manali to attend a high-altitude camp. It was perhaps for the first time that the players were given these things before the start of the high-altitude camp.

“The equipment is really important. The process has delayed but we are on it,” said an official. “The academies had remained shut for two years. The process to restart purchasing has taken a longer time than expected. Although the kits are available with the players, the equipment is needed,” added the official.

The last such delay was witnessed in 2016 when the players of these state-run academies had to wait for a long time to get kits.

Meanwhile, the players of Chandigarh Football Academy are scheduled to play in the Pre-Subroto Cup, starting from July 15. The team will be representing Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37. “The boys are representing the school and it’s their (school) responsibility to provide them kits. The Sports Department is only authorised to provide kits and equipment to the academies or when their players represent the department. The same is applicable to other academies under the department or the Sports Council,” added the official.