1 week Ago
Ludhiana: Though the Punjab govt has been making tall claims about improving sports infrastructure in the state, the reality seems far from it. Just one look at Guru Nanak Stadium shows the alleged govt apathy and indifference towards sports. Broken chairs lie strewn around the stadium that was once the pride of Ludhiana.
Athletes, who had come to participate in the qualifying competitions for the national tournaments, as well as schoolchildren who had come for trials by the sports department, rued that the stadium does not even have a proper seating area. They said the neglect is apparent from the fact that even peepal saplings have started growing in the stands. "It is highly disappointing that a stadium of such repute is now in such a sorry state," said Manpreet Singh, a relative accompanying one of the athletes.
Another athlete said it is ironic that posters of political leaders hang outside the stadium, who care two hoots about improving even basic seating and cleanliness. Another sportsperson said, "Though the govt has been claiming to build stadia in villages to engage youths, the existing infra of one of the main stadia in Punjab, seems to be breaking down." The condition of this stadium shows that no major tournaments have been held here for a long time.
Even the district-level Republic Day and Independence Day functions, which used to be held here, have not been done for the past couple of years. When asked, district sports officer Kuldip Chugh, said he has already written to the sports department about the requirement for Class IV staff, blaming poor maintenance and cleanliness on the manpower shortage. "There are only two Class IV employees who have to take care of the facilities not just at the Guru Nanak Stadium here, but also of the ground at SCD Govt College as well as the hockey ground at Punjab Agricultural University," he added.
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