Visakhapatnam Athletes Renew Demand for a Synthetic Track
VDAA says lack of a standard facility is hampering training and talent development.
Visakhapatnam: Athletes and coaches in Visakhapatnam have renewed their demand for a standard 400-metre synthetic athletics track. They contend the absence of the facility is affecting training and the development of emerging talent in north coastal Andhra.
Visakhapatnam District Athletics Association (VDAA) says it is unfortunate that the city, which has produced around 15 international athletes, including Olympians and Asian Games medallists, still lacks a synthetic track. Athletes are currently training on cinder and mud tracks, or travelling to cities, such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru, to access standard facilities.
The association said Visakhapatnam's coastal climate is suitable for year-round training. It is an ideal location for a high-performance athletics centre. The synthetic track would benefit athletes from Visakhapatnam as well as neighbouring districts, including Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Anakapalli.
VDAA general secretary M. Narayana Rao said the demand for a synthetic track has remained pending for more than 15 years. Such a track has become increasingly important with the growing number of athletes taking up athletics.
The facility would strengthen sports infrastructure in the region, improve training opportunities for young athletes, and enable Visakhapatnam to host state and national-level athletics competitions.
The association maintained that the proposal for a synthetic track is in line with the Andhra Pradesh Sports Policy 2024–29, which focuses on improving sports infrastructure and promoting sporting excellence across the state. It expressed the hope that the government would accord priority to the project, support local talent, and reduce dependence on training facilities in other states.
