A day before Asian Track Cycling Championships, Indira Gandhi Stadium roof starts leaking
Vinayak Padmadeo
New Delhi, June 17
In a major embarrassment to the country’s image as a sporting nation, the roof of the cycling velodrome at the Indira Gandhi Stadium started leaking after it rained here today. The venue will host the Asian Track Cycling Championships — both senior and junior — and the Para Track Cycling event, which start tomorrow.
Even as the teams were practising, streams of water began falling on the track, near the starting line, increasing the risk of a crash. A Kazakhstan staff member was seen repeatedly trying to dry the affected area with a towel, while training was going on.
The velodrome, which was refurbished for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is run by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). A source said that this could have been avoided. “This happens every time it rains in Delhi. What if it rains heavily when the competition is on? It is dangerous for the cyclists,” he said.
Shiv C Sharma, SAI’s executive director (stadia), said that the problem has been flagged to the contractor many times yet the issue has not been addressed. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) signed a 15-year maintenance contract with SAI when the stadium was handed over ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Sharma said that the roof had started leaking within one year of completion of the venue. “The contractor assigned the work of the velodrome handed over the infrastructure in 2010. The roof of the velodrome first leaked in 2011 and the contractor was asked to repair it since the company has a 15-year contract of maintenance and repair of the infrastructure,” Sharma said.
“However, despite repeated verbal and written communication from SAI, one letter as recent as June 2, no work has been undertaken,” he added.
The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) has also raised this issue with SAI a number of times over the years.
The wooden track has been cleared, as mandated to host major international tournaments by the international federation (UCI), by the governing body.
China, Nepal & Mongolia withdraw
The Chinese cycling team has given the Asian Track Cycling Championships a miss. The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) was expecting the team to arrive today from Europe, where they are based at the moment. However, the Chinese team did not arrive. Also skipping the tournament are Nepal and Mongolia. Pakistan’s four-member team has crossed into India from Attari border and has confirmed participation. Pakistan wanted to come at least two days in advance to adjust to the wooden track as they have been practising on cement tracks. There will be 25 countries in the fray, with Asian powerhouses South Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Kazakhstan among the favourites. India are fielding a 36-member team in the senior and junior categories, besides an eight-member team for the para event.
