According to The Indian Express, athletes at the Delhi government-run Thyagraj Stadium expressed concerns about training delays after being forced to evacuate the grounds early to allow Delhi’s Principal Secretary (Revenue) Sanjeev Khirwar to go for a walk with his dog.
Following athlete, coach, and parent concerns, the Delhi government has ordered that athletes’ stadium hours be extended till 10:00 p.m.
What were the complaints?
“Previously, we used to workout under lights till 8-8.30 p.m. However, by 7:00 p.m., we must vacate the premises ” a coach working at the facility said.
He blamed the limits on an officer from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), alleging that the babu enters the stadium with his dog.
The coach went on to say that it had thrown off their training and practise schedule.
Athletes who have been forced to relocate to new facilities
After 7:30 p.m., several athletes have begun to relocate their training to other facilities, such as the Sports Authority of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.
“Children train under the lights till 8.30 p.m. We’ve run out of space in the practice area during the summer vacation because the main stadium track is still being renovated “A coach at the stadium was quoted in the report.
Khirwar, an IAS officer, denies interfering with practise sessions.
Meanwhile, Khirwar admitted to walking his dog around the stadium, but disputed that it disrupted the athletes’ practise regimens.
“Even if I go, I do so after the stadium is scheduled to close. We do not abandon the animal on the track. We leave him when no one is around, but never at the expense of athletes “he stated.
What do the stadium officials have to say about it?
According to the press, security personnel ensure that the arena is cleared by 7:00 p.m. Whistles are blown across the stadium to signal this.
Meanwhile, stadium administrator Ajit Chaudhary stated that the official nighttime hour is 4-6 p.m.
Athletes were ordered to train until 7:00 p.m. due to the heat, he said. Chaudhary, on the other hand, made no mention of any specific time constraints.
There has been some criticism from a variety of sources.
Meanwhile, the IAS employee was heavily chastised for the alleged act.
“Imagine what it must be like in the districts if the DC and SSP believe they are lords and masters of all they survey,” Congress lawmaker Manish Tewari tweeted.
“SPORTS HAS GONE TO THE DOGS,” senior journalist Saurabh Bose remarked on Twitter.
Delhi has issued a new directive
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took notice of the complaint on Thursday.
According to ANI, he has directed that all Delhi government sports facilities remain available for athletes until 10 p.m.
Thyagraj Stadium, as you may know, was one of the multi-discipline sporting facilities created for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
It attracts athletes and football players from all around the country.
The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi tweets about the new directive
