The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : SZ meet: rain may play spoilsport

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Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006
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SZ meet: rain may play spoilsport

Principal Correspondent

RAICHUR: The rains over the last couple of days have put the organisers of the 18th South Zone Inter-State athletics championships in a quagmire. With the efforts over the last few days on the track washed away in the overnight rain, and more rain predicted in the next few days, the smooth conduct of the event at the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium here is in doubt.

The cinder track has already taken a beating and the curves just cannot be trampled upon unless the sun shines over the next two days. The alternative venue, College of Agricultural Engineering, — with its mud track — is a good enough venue for the track events but one cannot expect any record-timings given the conditions.

"With the rain gods intervening, there is very little we can do. Weather permitting we will have the tracks ready by the morning," said Rajvelu, technical official of the meet. Meanwhile, owing to the examinations, most of the States have come here without their star performers. Tamil Nadu, with the largest contingent of 183 athletes, look formidable, while Kerala and Karnataka along with Andhra are fielding around 150 athletes, but again without some of the top athletes.

Injuries

"Some of the athletes are nursing injuries, but very many of them are preparing for their exams thus giving this premier event a miss," said an official. Raichur, having conducted the State junior championships a few years ago, did boast of a few good timings then.

With Karnataka's sensation, M.R. Poovamma, not making an appearance, it is for Shreema Priyadarshi and the lesser lights to shine bright, while Anicham, A. Jessy and Vadivelu from Tamil Nadu, K. Mridula, Prasanna Ramachandra, N. Siddaramaiah, Kodalu, S. Jagdeeshwari and V. Prabhavathi from Andhra provide the silver lining.

The Kerala contingent (about 150) and Pondicherry (25) are yet to make an appearance at the stadium.

Hanumanthappa Alkod, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services, Government of Karnataka, will inaugurate the three-day event on Wednesday.

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