Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103061802200.htm

Sport - Athletics

New synthetic track inaugurated

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

ENTICING: The newly re-laid synthetic athletic track at the Nehru Stadium, which was inaugurated on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: The newly re-laid synthetic athletic track at the Nehru Stadium looks inviting. Already, athletes have started practising with avid enthusiasm.

With a couple of events — AL Mudaliar and rural sports meets — having been conducted as trial events, the track was formally inaugurated on Wednesday by the State Sports and Environment Minister T.P.M. Mohideen Khan.

Development work

Addressing Sports Hostel students, the Minister detailed the Government’s development work in different sporting disciplines at the grassroots level. Mr. Mohideen Khan urged the athletes to make full use of the track and bring glory to the State and country.

W.I. Davaram, President, Tamil Nadu Athletics Association, said, “this is an important day for us. The track is of international standards. We are the only State in the country which has three synthetic tracks in Madurai, Chennai and Coimbatore and three astro turfs for hockey — two in Chennai and one in Palayamkottai.”

Narrating the achievements of Tamil Nadu athletes at the National meets and in the recently concluded Commonwealth Youth Games, Davaram said all these had been due to Government’s support and infrastructure.”

R. Christodas Gandhi, Secretary, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Government of TN, assured the Government’s total support to sportspersons.

R. Thirumalaisamy, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University and M.R. Mohan, Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu also spoke.