31-05-2025
Athletes in Hubballi struggle due to lack of synthetic track
Hubballi: Despite achieving in state and national level sports competitions, athletes in Hubballi are struggling with limited access to proper training facilities, and must cope with significant infrastructural challenges, particularly the absence of a synthetic track.
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While the city has Nehru Stadium and Railways ground for regular practice sessions, these venues lack modern synthetic tracks. This deficiency forces athletes to travel to Dharwad's RN Shetty ground for their training. Daily commute between the twin cities eats up on training time and athlete's energy.
Lack of a synthetic track in Hubballi affects both amateur and professional athletes of all age groups. Young talent, particularly school and college students, find it difficult to maintain consistent training schedules due to these limitations.
The absence of this essential facility also impacts their preparation for competitive events and championships.
Local sports coaches have emphasised the need for a synthetic track in Hubballi. A proper track would not only enhance training quality but also help prevent injuries caused while practising on substandard surfaces. The current situation hampers the athletes' performance potential and their ability to compete effectively at higher levels.
According to athletes in Hubballi, their training venues are limited to the Railways ground and Nehru Stadium, with neither facility offering a synthetic track. Although the HDMC initially proposed developing Nehru Stadium with a synthetic track under the smart city mission, they later altered their plans citing their intention to create multi-sport facilities instead.
Kamala Siddi, an international athlete, said having a synthetic track in Hubballi would benefit the entire community.
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It would enable more efficient training sessions, attract more youth to athletics, and potentially produce more champions from the region. The facility would also make Hubballi a potential venue for hosting district and state-level athletic meets, contributing to the city's sporting culture.
Sayed Sabeer, a member of the Indian team who won silver in the U-18 Asian athletics championship, highlighted the challenges of training in Hubballi without a synthetic track, necessitating trips to Dharwad for practice. Athletes in Hubballi struggle with inadequate facilities, particularly the absence of a synthetic track. The installation of a synthetic track is essential, as all athletic competitions are conducted exclusively on synthetic surfaces.
