Guwahati: The 58th National Inter-State Senior Athletic Championship, 2018 will begin from tomorrow at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Sarusajai with as many as 750 athletes participating from all over the country to battle it off for the Asian Games, 2018.
The secretary of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), C.K. Valson, said that since the championship is the last before the Asian Games that will begin from August this year, participation is mandatory for all the players to take part in the championship to qualify. 32 events will be played each day starting from tomorrow at 6 am till June 29.
“It will be the final selection for the games. So, all the top athletes of India will participate in this championship. All the arrangements inside the stadium are up to the satisfactory level and it will be a good competition,” Valson told media at a press conference in the Sarusajai stadium here today.
The athletes have already started coming who were mostly accommodated in the quarters of the Administrative Staff College and hotels.
The state government has also made arrangements for the transport of the athletes by dedicated air-conditioned busses. Regarding the arrangement, Valson said,” Everything is up to the mark and the athletes have expressed their satisfaction regarding it.”
However, there were some doubts raised regarding the quality of the track at Sarusajai Stadium, which, many, including Valson and veteran athlete PT Usha said to be “harder than usual”.
“Athletes can run on the track, but it could have been better,” Valson said.
Usha, who was also on the on the same line added, “It’s a bit harder than usual. But athletes can compete on it.”
However, Valson added, “I am thankful to the government of Assam for making the arrangements in such a short notice. It’s commendable of the state government.”
Usha, too lauded the state government and the Assam Athletic Federation for the same.