Archery arena opens but training,competition areas still incomplete

Though DDA officials claimed the arena is “perfectly ready” for the event,work remains to be carried out across a large part of the complex.

The sports complex was initially scheduled to be ready by December 2009. At present,however,only the grandstand — with the capacity of 1,500 spectators — is complete while work remains on training and competition areas. Infrastructure facilities like change rooms and medical centre among others are also incomplete.

Ten countries will participate in the five-day archery test event that will be held at the complex beginning March 8. To “ready” it before the participants arrive,the DDA removed all debris and grass-carpeted the test event and the training arena. Officials claimed the venue will undergo a complete “transformation in the time to come”.

“The workers have done a good job in such a short period. For the time being,the venue has been readied for the test event. Other work is in progress to get the arena in a better shape before the Games in October,” a DDA official said.

Besides hosting the qualifying rounds of the archery competition,the sports complex will also serve as the venue for table tennis and as training venue for archery,aquatics,hockey and rhythmic gymnastics.

While the table tennis stadium will be ready by May,other training venues will be handed over for use by June,DDA officials said.

The officials said one of the main reasons the sports complex was delayed was the time taken in obtaining clearance from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission. The Commission approved the project in October last year after rejecting it for almost a year,citing inconsistency in the set of drawings submitted to it.