New Delhi: Archery Association of India president VK Malhotra said he doubted the timely completion of the archery venue for next year's Commonwealth Games, as has been claimed by the Organising Committee.
Malhotra said the venue at Yamuna Sports Complex which will host the archery preliminary round was only 31 per cent complete and unlikely to be ready before scheduled deadline of December 31.
"The archery stadium is in the worst state, only 31 per cent work has been completed till date which forced us to shift the Asian Grand Prix to Kolkata," Malhotra, president of Archery Association of India, told reporters.
"I personally went to the Yamuna Sports Complex to have a look at the progress and they (constructors) said it will be ready by December 31 but I really doubt it.”
"Archery doesn't need anything much. We just need a ground in a good condition with grass on it and a modernised sitting area for spectators," he added.
Apart from the preliminary rounds of archery, the Yamuna Sports Complex will also host table tennis event.
Malhotra also came down hard on all the stakeholders of the Games, including Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, for the shoddy pace of preparations of the mega event.
"They are only busy in making tall claims that everything will be ready in time, but what do you mean by time. Does it mean it will be ready a day before the Games?" he asked.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, September 25, 2009, 20:17