The nation’s premier athletics venue, Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, has been with out a everlasting pole vault equipment for over six months. This has compelled athletes to coach within the lengthy bounce pit, the makeshift association answerable for a number of twisted ankles and knees. Just a few of the Capital’s pole vaulters are considering quitting the game, others are coping with a sudden drop in efficiency.
Devraj, a 2019 Delhi state medallist, couldn’t land a single authorized bounce finally month’s Open Nationals in Warangal. “I could do 4.80m earlier but now I can’t even make a proper jump. With great difficulty, I have been able to procure poles but what will I do without a pit? I am considering selling them off,” says Devraj.
The SAI, in a press release to The Indian Express, stated that the pole vault self-discipline was “moved” to Bangalore in December the place the NCOE (National Centre of Excellence) will operate. “Pole vault equipment integral to Pole vault NCOE (National Centre of Excellence) have moved to a new location in Dec 2020 and all facilities wrt pole vault are available at Bangalore,” the assertion learn.
Vaulters compelled to apply on the bounce pit in JLN pic.twitter.com/WBMItBTIdj
— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) October 6, 2021
Stadium authorities have locked up the prevailing “unfit” pits within the storeroom. For the latest under-23 National Championships, the Indian Army got here to the rescue making certain the pole vault occasion wasn’t scrapped as was the case on the Delhi state meet organised a number of weeks again on the similar venue.
“The Rajputana Rifles lent us the pole vault pits. They brought it in their Army trucks and took it back after the event,” says an official.
SAI additional said that “the issue of new pits” for competitions is being “deliberated”. That signifies that the ordeal of pole vaulters on the stadium is unlikely to finish quickly.
“We don’t have a pit for over six months now. I am tired of running after stadium officials. What hurts me more than the absence of the pit is the condescending tone in which certain administrators talk to us. Do you want to know why India doesn’t win as many medals as it should? It’s because of administrators like these,” a dejected Delhi state medallist stated.
On Monday, a bunch of annoyed pole vaulters reached administrator Satyadev Prasad’s workplace in search of an replace on the matter, solely to be instructed that “he couldn’t do much.” Prasad refused to touch upon the difficulty.
Athletes say that transferring the power to Bangalore wouldn’t assist them.
“I have just started. How can you expect me to leave my home and go to Bangalore? I am not even part of the NCOE. What will Delhi’s young vaulters do? You can’t expect everyone to move to a new city,” says 17-year-old Rahul (identify modified).
Rahul got here to JLN with excessive hopes. Back in his college, utilizing a bamboo stick as a pole and haystacks as a pit, he managed to cross the 3m mark. He thought that at JLN he would be capable of attempt his hand at an precise pit for the primary time, however was left dejected. “I cannot believe that the country’s best stadium does not have a pole vault pit. I still can’t,” says Rahul.
Those who’re presently coaching within the lengthy bounce pit concern accidents. “Our knees hurt and a few days back my ankle got twisted. But what can we do? Our performances have gone down as well. If things don’t change, I will have to quit,” says a younger vaulter on situation of anonymity.