New Delhi [India], April 18 (ANI): Athletics Federation of India (AFI) spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla has raised severe issues over the standard of artificial athletic tracks within the nation, stating {that a} overwhelming majority of them are substandard by way of materials, development, and measurements.
Addressing an AFI press convention on Saturday, Sumariwalla alleged widespread irregularities within the development and upkeep of tracks throughout India.
‘I can let you know 90% plus tracks in India are substandard. The materials used is substandard, the method is substandard, and the granules used are substandard. The laying methodology is substandard, so the thickness is substandard,’ he mentioned.
He additional identified that in a number of circumstances, correct supplies like polyurethane aren’t getting used, with options corresponding to tyre rubber getting used as a substitute.
‘Instead of polyurethane, in locations, solely tyre rubber is getting used as a substitute of polyurethane. Various issues are points with 90-plus per cent of the tracks, together with the measurements,’ he added.
Sumariwalla additionally clarified that the AFI had stayed away from monitor certification and associated processes prior to now on account of issues over awarding irregularities.
‘AFI was by no means concerned. AFI had stayed away from this for a really very long time. After all, we do not wish to become involved, as a result of a whole lot of these tracks have been awarded, which isn’t one thing that we wish to get into, and that’s the reason we stayed very far,’ he mentioned.
However, he added that the federation will now be compelled to take part within the course of following directives from World Athletics. He additional famous that primarily based on international discussions, AFI will now must take a extra energetic function in making certain monitor high quality requirements going ahead.
‘We’ve by no means licensed any monitor. However, any further, we’ll must become involved as a result of World Athletics has known as us and mentioned we have to become involved. We had a gathering in Tokyo on this, and so they confirmed us some knowledge, which was fairly surprising,’ Sumariwalla mentioned.
The AFI now plans to vet an inventory of distributors from throughout the globe and in addition intends to accentuate testing of the tracks. This growth comes after the federation carried out a course with consultants on how a monitor is to be laid, examined, and measured. (ANI)