Training facilities far from ideal, complain Indian weightlifters

Given the sub-standard weightlifting venue which hosts the selection trials for the Commonwealth Games, the feats of K Ravi Kumar and Sarbjit Singh, who broke the national marks in the 69kg and 105+ kg categories respectively over the weekend, should be on par with an international achievement.


The training area for Indian weightlifters, who will qualify for the
Commonwealth Games. PIC/Imtiyaz Khan

There is hardly a seat at the sprawling complex (built at the cost ofu00a0 Rs 80 crore) that won't leave you wet given the leakage from the roof. Besides, the very foundation of the venue's training floor is dicey, claim the lifters. The training or warm-up area in weightlifting is one of the most important areas for the lifters given they do their rehearsal weight-training there seconds before stepping into competition and then return there for further training after every subsequent attempt (every lifter has a maximum of three attempts).

However, this area is proving to be a headache, quite literally for the lifters.

Senior India weightlifter Sanamacha Chanu explained: "There is too much vibration in the warm-up area as the flooring has not been done properly. In fact, the continuous banging of the barbells on the floor during practice is giving most of us headaches. Chakker aa raha hai (we are feeling giddy)," Chanu told MiD DAY.

Only a thin wall
One senior lifter, who did not wish to be named said: "As per international guidelines, the warm-up area has to be away from the main performance stage, but here it's exactly behind it with a thin wall separating the two.
"There are 12 warm-up mats and the situation on the training floor is quite chaotic and noisy."

National weightlifting coach Harnam Singh added to the list of venue woes. "Yesterday, on Day One of the selection trials the scoreboard in the warm-up area was not operational, leaving us all at sea backstage," said Harnam.

Bad vibrations
Competition director K Subramanya admitted to the vibration issue. "We have received a recommendation from the technical committee of the International Weightlifting Federation regarding some problems in the venue and have forwarded the same to the CWG Organising Committee," said Subramanya.

According to sources, the CWG OC has in turn forwarded the matter to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which have constructed the venue.u00a0

u00a0However, the CPWD feel there is nothing wrong with the facility.

"Our engineers have thoroughly checked the venue and have given it the accreditation certificate. The venue has got double basement but being a weightlifting venue heavy weights are dropped on the ground so there is little vibration. Otherwise, the venue is fit for the Games," said BK Chugh, Director General of CPWD.

K Ravi Kumar, a gold medal prospect at the upcoming CWG, put the whole issue in perspective.

"After all this is a test event and such events are held so that the organisers can learn from their mistakes and eventually ensure a flawless final competition," said Ravi.