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Pitching in their best
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Despite initial glitches, the ONGC-junior National athletics championship was a worthy effort
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A.V. Raghavendra
RIGHT FROM the railway station onwards, banners, posters, cutouts and other visual props welcomed participants to the ONGC-junior National athletics championships at Vijayawada. The terminal building was decked up for the day and illuminated for the night.
Just to ensure it was no empty invitation, a large tent was pitched at the entrance, where several counters enabled enquiry and assistance. Announcements in English, Telugu and Hindi urged sportspersons to approach the scores of volunteers or the help-desks. Hardly had the athletes set foot on the platform than they were showered with rose petals, bouquets presented to coaches and entire contingents offered refreshments of their choice!
The Railways had constituted a Reception Committee, with M.M. Rao, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Vijayawada as Chairman. Assisting it were scouts and guides in identifying the sportspersons and directing them to their respective accommodation. Standing in readiness were buses to cart the athletes to their hotels. "It was our effort to fine-tune the mood of the athletes on their arrival and foster a feeling of national oneness," said Rao of the exercise that went off smoothly.
The trading town was only too keen to put its best forward, vis-à-vis hospitality and warmth.
Ramesh Jain
Being its maiden attempt to host a meet of this magnitude, the participants alone numbering 1750 from 24 States and two Union Territories, there were a few teething problems. For instance, volunteers at the venue, the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation stadium were aplenty - around 400 of them. Many of them were seen idle, while Athletics Federation of India technical committee member Valson was seen legging it from the field to the office for compilation of the latest results.
Initially the food tents seemed unequal to the task of coping with the rush. That evened out subsequently, the sumptuous fare more than making up for the early hitches. Whatever the lapses, the enthusiasm was palpable if not infectious.
At the grass root level, meaning those actually manning the field, officials mostly from South Central Railway's Hyderabad and Vijayawada divisions, did much of the spadework. In addition to arriving early to get the ground competition-worthy, their duties ranged from firing the starting gun to time keeping.
Vinayak Prasad
Keeping tabs was sprinting great and former National champion, Rami Reddy. For a sport that suffers from lack of sponsorship, the Krishna District Athletic Association, host of the said meet, did a commendable job of raising considerable resources to stage and run the show. President of the KDAA, Ramesh Jain, seemed calm and composed even in the crunch situations, keeping a low profile while actually getting things done.
Quite visible with his hard work was Vinayak Prasad, Convenor of the meet's technical committee.
As regards organisational abilities, there are still miles to go. For a first time attempt however, it was a worthy effort.
A. JOSEPH ANTONY
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