Stadium facilities not up to international standard: P.T. Usha

Facilities at the Mangala Stadium, the venue of the three-day Federation Cup Senior Athletic Championship to commence from May 1 here, are not up to international standard.

“The facilities here are good for national events. You need advanced training equipments to host an international event,” P.T. Usha, the veteran ace sprinter told The Hindu .

Ms. Usha, who runs the Usha School of Athletics, was at the Mangala Stadium with her five athletes, including ace sprinter Tinku Luka to train on the synthetic track on Monday.

Ms. Usha said the stadium looked far better than a few months ago. “It’s good that the meet (Federation cup) has come here,” she said noting the changes in the stadium. “The laying of lawn in the middle of the tracks should have been done earlier,” she said.

Ms. Usha said Tinku Luka will be taking part in the Federation Cup in Mangaluru. Three of her athletes are attending the trials in Goa for the Asian Youth Championship.

Ms. Usha said as Federation Cup was the first athletic event for the season, athletes are not at their peak. “You can expect better show in the inter-university meets that will follow,” she said and added that performance at Federation cup will hold in good stead for athletes preparing for Asian and World Athletic championships.