A level playing field: Sports facilities revamped in urban, rural areas of Yamunanagar district
In a significant step towards strengthening sports infrastructure, the Sports Department has undertaken renovation and development works at the district-level Tejli Sports Complex in Yamunanagar and at six Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Sports Complexes in Chhachhrauli town and Barsan, Nagal, Kotra Khas, Golni and Naharpur villages. Stadiums in both rural and urban areas of Yamunanagar district are being revamped to provide better facilities to aspiring athletes.
According to information, levelling and cleaning of grounds and repair of sports complex buildings has been carried out in all Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Sports Complexes. Earlier, the poor condition of these rural sports complexes posed serious challenges for players. Uneven surfaces, broken boundary walls and lack of basic amenities often disrupted practice sessions and raised safety concerns. Female athletes, in particular, faced difficulties due to inadequate facilities. However, athletes said noticeable improvements were made during the recently undertaken development works.
An aspiring athlete from a village said the initiative was a positive step towards promoting sports culture in rural areas. “Improved infrastructure and better facilities will ensure that young athletes get a stronger platform to pursue their dreams and achieve excellence in various sports disciplines,” he said. “Earlier, the poor condition of the ground in the stadium of our village affected our training, but the recent upgrades will significantly boost morale and performance.”
Athletes at the Tejli Sports Complex in Yamunanagar are set to receive significantly improved facilities as a number of renovation and repair work have been completed at the venue, while other works, such as painting and white-washing, are in progress. Besides, damaged sections of the complex, including boundary walls, have been repaired to ensure safety. The sports complex has also witnessed major upgrades, including the development of basketball ground, volleyball courts, lawn tennis courts and boxing rings.
The boundary wall facing the Chitta Hanuman Mandir side was severely damaged and posed a safety risk for sportspersons who practiced at the complex. The wall has also been repaired. Athletes had been facing inconvenience for a long time due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities. Now, toilets are being upgraded and other works related to sanitation are also being carried out to meet basic standards of health and hygiene. Repair work has also been undertaken on the wall surrounding the athletics ground.
According to information, special attention is being given to ensure that the training areas are safe for athletes. Maintenance work was also carried out at the ground of the complex during Republic Day preparations earlier this year. The complex, one of the largest sports facilities in the district, had been facing criticism from players and sports enthusiasts owing to poor upkeep.
Players have expressed relief and optimism following the ongoing improvements. They believe that the upgraded facilities would enhance the overall sporting environment and encourage more participation from young athletes.
District Sports Officer Shilpa Gupta said the department was making continuous efforts to provide better facilities to players. “The primary objective is to provide better facilities to athletes, enabling them to enhance their performance,” said Gupta.
She said the department had spent approximately Rs 10.71 lakh to strengthen sports infrastructure in Tejli Sports Complex and over Rs 1 crore across works undertaken in the six Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Sports Complexes and a few other mini sports complexes. “Renovation and development works have been completed in all six Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Sports Complexes. However, some development works are still in progress in Tejli Sports Complex,” added Gupta.
