We want our fields back, says Anju Bobby George

(File) Anju Bobby George (right) with P.T. Usha | Russell Shahul

Legendary long-jumper and government observer for athletics Anju Bobby George, along with officials of the Athletics Federation of India, objected to athletes being denied access to facilities in major stadiums in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru due to the ongoing Indian Super League. Urging the government to “give our fields back”, George and Secretary of AFI C.K. Valson said their pleas to allow top athletes to train were falling on deaf ears. They alleged that the government was favouring football over athletics.

“Athletes are struggling to gain entry into stadiums which are meant for them in these cities. They are not allowed to do their training especially for events that are held on the field. We want our fields back,” said George.

When asked whether the authorities—in this case, the Sports Authority of India, which owns the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium—and sports officials in Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru were not cooperating, she said, “If they were cooperating then they would not give these stadiums to one popular game.”

Because of the ISL and the money spent by franchises to maintain the main football pitches in various grounds, other activities have almost come to a standstill. This has been going on for almost three years now—Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium has witnessed regular protests by athletes big and small.

Asked whether she intervened as government observer, a frustrated George said, “I have raised this issue many times. In Bengaluru, the authorities wanted to give the SAI training centre to ISL, but I stopped that. They tried to lay a separate football turf inside the field there; I had to stop that, too. The throwers are unable to practise. Where will athletes go? It's a big issue.”

Valson said, “It's a question government has to answer—which sport is closer to giving them a world medal, football or athletics? Do they want to support a sport to make income from it or do they want to make efforts to help produce world champions?

“They are telling throwers to practise in warm-up area which is not equipped for their events. Barring Delhi, where we had ensured proper facilities during Commonwealth Games in 2010, the facilities in other cities are not up to the mark.”

Clearly, patience among the athletes and the federation is wearing thin now. Recently, AFI threatened to pull out of Khelo India games organised by the Union sports ministry unless the track and field events were organised in the main field of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The Ministry agreed because it was a prestigious event and it didn't wish to attract controversy.

The Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Championship 2018, which begins on March 5 is being held in Patiala due to non-availability of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the capital. The track is newly laid. The AFI clarified that the track is not the issue but the field for throwers. Valson confirmed that the Federation Cup has been shifted from Delhi second time in a row due to this issue. This championship is the last chance for athletes to qualify for the CWG 2018 to be held in March in Gold Coast, Australia. In fact, it is a must for all athletes even if they have already qualified for the CWG, to participate in this event.

Valson gave the example of a hammer throw cage breaking in a national championship last year in Kolkata. “If a hammer throw cage breaks, it can injure judges and other athletes. It is very dangerous. If it's held in a large field, it is strong enough to withstand any mishap.”

The absence of athletes training at the stadium is glaring. However, the government, in November 2017, granted permission for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's Dabangg Show to be held on the main pitch. A furious exchange of letters took place between the SAI and Delhi Dynamos, which had protested against the permission, and the pitch had ended up getting damaged.