Senior National Indoor Court construction delay affects conduct of the event

Due to delay in construction of two indoor basketball courts at Guru Nanak Stadium under the Smart City Mission, authorities are left with no other option but to host the 73rd Senior National Basketball Championship on one indoor and two outdoor courts.According to an official of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), the national-level games are to be held on indoor courts having wooden floors.

However, only one indoor court is available here. Officials added that due to lack of infrastructure in other states, they had to organise games outdoors on previous occasions too. Basketball matches are being organised at three venues, including the indoor court of Guru Nanak Stadium, two outdoor courts of the multi-purpose hall near Rakh Bagh and another at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The Rs 11.26 crore project of constructing two indoor basketball courts was announced in January. Under this project, courts were to be constructed with maple wood flooring and players’ rooms were to be renovated. Work started in March and was to be completed by the end of July.

Till now, about 50% of work on the courts has been completed.President, Basketball Federation of India (BFI), Aadhav Arjuna said, “As per rules, national-level events are to be held indoors. Here in Ludhiana, only one indoor court is available and some events are being held outdoors too. However, this is the situation almost everywhere. We make senior and well performing players play indoors on maple wood court as we don’t want them to get injured at any cost.” MC commissioner Sandeep Rishi conceded to the delay in completion of the project and said, “The deadline is now December 31. We have already issued a notice to the contractor and officials for this delay.”

Courtesy TOI