Venue Maintenance Key Task after CWG

Arjuna Awardee and eight-time table tennis national champion, Kamlesh Mehta has said that maintaining the world-class facilities after Commonwealth Games will be a big task once the event gets over.

Mehta added that India’s poor record in maintaining sporting facilities in the past was a concern.

“Making good facilities is not a problem in India. Many stadiums built for different tournaments at different time have some great facilities. But the major problem is proper maintenance of this infrastructure,” he said.

“We have not been successful in maintaining them once the events are over. That is going to be a bigger challenge. The governments and federation, all have roles to play in this,” he added.

Yamuna Sports Complex, which will host the table tennis competition during the CWG, is one of the venues being readied for the showpiece event from October 3-14 in the national

‘Foreign trips good for players’

Mehta lauded the government and the national federation for giving the players enough international exposure in the run up to the Delhi Games.

“Indian table tennis is now looking quite healthy and the players are also getting a lot of exposure and training abroad. This is good and will help the players improve before the Commonwealth Games. It will not be an easy competition for them,” Mehta said.

“These trips are being organized with an eye on the Commonwealth Games, but they should continue even after the Games if we want our players to do well at the Olympics.