Panipat athletes train without proper equipment, stadiums

Despite repeated claims of improving infrastructure and providing coaches across Haryana, sportspersons are compelled to practise without proper equipment.

The state government has set itself the ambitious target of winning 36 gold medals at the 2036 Olympics. Yet, without even basic facilities, achieving this goal appears doubtful. “How will the aim be fulfilled when we do not even have equipment to train with?” said a sportsperson on condition of anonymity.

According to sources in the Sports Department, procurement of sports equipment is handled centrally at the headquarters level and then distributed to districts. However, the last such purchase was made around 11 years ago, during the BJP’s first term in power. Since then, no new equipment has been provided.

Panipat district has two district-level stadiums — Shivaji Stadium in Model Town spread over seven acres, and another built four years ago at Sewah village on 14.5 acres, worth Rs 28 crore. These facilities include a tennis court, hockey, football, kabaddi, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, judo and handball arenas, along with a synthetic track.

In addition, the Municipal Corporation is constructing an indoor stadium on the Panipat–Sanoli–Hardwar road, worth around Rs 40 crore, for which Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini laid the foundation stone last year. It will feature badminton, table tennis, basketball-cum-handball courts, and arenas for boxing, archery and squash, besides a gymnasium, healthcare centre, yoga and physiotherapy centre.

The district also has seven Rajiv Gandhi Rural Khel Parisars located at Israna, Bapoli, Madlauda, Karhans, Babbail, Sewah, Jatal and Ahar villages. Further, 17 mini-stadiums have been sanctioned in rural areas, of which 13 have been completed, while four are under construction.

Currently, there are 44 sports nurseries in Panipat where around 1,100 sportspersons are training, in addition to 500 players at 20 departmental nurseries. The district has 23 coaches in total — four for athletics, three each for wrestling and kabaddi, two for judo and one each for shooting, handball, fencing, hockey, volleyball, football, kho-kho and taekwondo.

However, there are no coaches for badminton, lawn tennis, swimming, archery, wushu, basketball, gymnastics or cycling.

Maintenance is another major issue. Shivaji Stadium is frequently used by political parties, government departments and social organisations for events, which disrupts practice sessions. “The number of morning walkers is more than sportspersons here,” said a player.

The Sewah stadium is also in poor condition, with long weeds growing unchecked around the premises. Similarly, the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Karhans has no potable water, no lighting facilities and a ground overrun with weeds, a former village sarpanch pointed out.

Amit Kumar, Block Samiti member, also said that the stadium was constructed in Karhans village around 20 years ago, but the 800 meter road approaching to the stadium was not constructed so far. No basic amenity- lights, potable water, toilets or other basic poles for sports persons were missing from the ground, Amit alleged

District Sports Officer Dhurender Singh Hooda said that the demand for coaches had been regularly sent to the directorate. “Equipment demands have also been raised with the headquarters. Once purchased, it will be distributed among players,” he added.

Minister of State for Sports Gaurav Gautam, who visited Shivaji Stadium in August, also promised that new equipment would soon be procured and distributed