Rohtak's Rajiv Gandhi State Sports Complex shut, players practise at village grounds

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, June 9

National and international players are compelled to practise in parks, village and school grounds as the Rajiv Gandhi State Sports Complex at the HSVP, Sector 6, here is shut for the past one month following the Covid lockdown.

Interestingly, both — the HSVP and the Sports Department — deny any restrictions on such players for the practise at the complex but the security guards deputed there do not allow them to enter.

Sessions hit hard

My friend, an international player, and I practise at a park in Suncity. My trials for the Paralympics Games are scheduled in Delhi this month, so I need to practise on the synthetic track. Players are not being allowed to practise at the sports complex due to the lockdown. — Sandeep Mor, International Para Athlete

“My friend, an international player, and I practise at a park in Suncity. It is not easy to maintain fitness on a simple track. My trials for the Paralympics Games are scheduled in Delhi this month, so I need to practise on the synthetic track and avail other facilities for a good preparation. But the players are not being allowed to practise at the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex due to the lockdown,” said Sandeep Mor, an international para athlete.

Entry not restricted

The department has deputed coaches there to train budding players, who are being trained online these days. We have not restricted any player from practising at the sports complex. The security personnel have been deputed there by the HSVP. — Sharmila, Acting District Sports officer

He maintained that many players went to nearby villages daily to use the grounds for practise hence the authorities should grant special permission to all national and international players so that they could prepare for the coming events.

Manu Khatkar, gold medalist of shot-put event in 2017 Asian Youth Para Games, said, initially, he started practising at a school ground in Madina village after the sports complex was shut last month but later, he had to shift to his native village in Jind district. “Now, I practise on my village ground and am waiting for the complex to open,” he added.

Another athlete questioned when all business establishments were allowed to open then why was the sports complex closed? “No player has been allowed to practise in the past one month. The restriction will continue till June 15,” said a security guard deputed there.

Shweta Suhag, Estate Officer, HSVP, said the HSVP had nothing to do with sports activities as it just maintained the complex premises. “We have not restricted any player from practising there. Local officers of the Sports Department can answer if such a thing is happening,” she added.

Sharmila, acting District Sports Officer, said her department had deputed coaches there to train budding players, who were being trained online these days. “We have not restricted any player from practising at the sports complex. The security personnel have been deputed there by the HSVP,” she added.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.