Athletes, officials praise National Games complex

RANCHI - Athletes and officials participating in the 34th National Games here were all praise for the newly constructed Sports Complex, the main venue for the event.

The sports complex is situated in Hotwar area of Ranchi and has the distinction of being a unique structure. It is the first complex where six stadiums of international standards are functioning side by side for the Feb 12-26 Games.

Indian Olympic association (IOA) president Suresh kalmadi had called the complex a world class venue.

Delhi’s Swimmer Richa Mishra, who won 16 medals including 11 golds, said “the complex has the best swimming pool in India”.

Jharkhand goverment’s decision to allow visitors in the sports complex without ticket has made into a picinic spot. More than 20,000 to 25,000 people are coming to watch games on a daily basis.

Even Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni could not stop himself from the visting the Games site as he took time from his busy World Cup schedule to check what the Games have to offer for the various states.

Sunday witnessed crowd of more than 60,000. The main athletics stadium having a capacity of nearly 35000 was full. The bad weather and drizzle did not deter the enthusiastic crowd from seeing their favourite national stars.

The football Stadium at Morabadi had a ‘full-house during the Jharkhand-Goa match in which Dhoni also was part of the crowd.

Dey, a housewife who visited the complex Sunday, said we rejoiced watching match and got enjoyed much like picnic.

With still another five days to go before the curtains go down on the most spectacular event that Jharkhand has hosted to date, it is now being felt by the authorities that the crowd may swell even further as they may not get a chance to see such a spectacle in the near future.