KOZHIKODE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a synthetic track at the Usha School of Athletics through video conference at a function to be held at Kinalur here on June 15. The eight-lane, 400m-track was allotted to the Usha School of Athletics by the then sports minister Ajay Maken in 2011. “A major lack in facilities will be covered up by this track and will help potential athletes to perform to their optimum,” said P.T. Usha, the former track and field athlete at a press meet. The inaugural function will be presided over by minister of youth affairs and sports Vijay Goel.
The central government allotted Rs 8.5 crores under the National Sports Development Council fund and the work was carried out by the Central PWD with the help of the Sports Authority of India. “Promising athletes need to build up a strong mental attitude and believe in the advantages of proper training. A world class track at the school will promote this attitude,” said Usha. “We also need to construct floodlights and a stadium to conduct athletic meets there. The synthetic track is of international standard and can host meets such as the Indian Grand Prix, if basic infrastructure is also built,” she said.
With the completion of work, the school will have two tracks – a synthetic and an existing mud track. “Only a few athletic schools in the country have two tracks. These facilities should be there to conduct meets as the mud track can be used as the warm up track,” she said. Minister for industries, sports and youth affairs A.C Moideen, Sports Authority of India regional director G. Kishor, T.P. Dasan, sports council president, are among other dignitaries who will attend the function.
