Rotovators and Dozers have move in at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium to refurbish the track for the Junior National Athletic Championship which begins from November 26. The machines are stirring the soil along the 400-metre track under the watchful eyes of the technical experts of the Andhra Pradesh Athletic Association (APAA).
“We will press into service an eight-tonne roller to level the pulverised soil and later do watering to prepare the track for sprints, middle and long distance events,” says chief coach Vinayak Prasad. The senior Sports Authority of India coach said that high pressure vacuum rollers will be used in the final phase to make the track stay firm and racy.
The experts are laying in and out borders to help the track withstand the vagaries of nature. “The out border will prevent the track from getting washed away during downpour.”
Mr. Vinayak said that the high jump pit will be inside the field while pits of long jump and pole vault will come up outside the track. “We are coming up with double long jump pit in which four athletes can perform simultaneously. We are taking up plastering works at the three rings — shot put, hammer and discus.”
He said the works were taken up as per the instructions specified in the track-laying manual authorised by the federation.
District Sports Development Officer P. Ramakrishna said that the entire repair works were taken up with an estimated cost of Rs. 2.60 lakh. “We are also getting brand new athletic equipment worth Rs. 8 lakhs for the event. The corporation is also taking up repairs at toilets.”
Vijayawada is staging the mega national event for the third time. Earlier it hosted in 2004 and 2007. Doordarshan crew is already in town to select places to install their cameras.
