Sportsmen oppose laying of astro turf

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 30: With Sports Council planning to lay down astro turf on TRC ground, in Srinagar, Dalgate Sports Fraternity (DSF) have opposed the move and said that it would restrict the sports activities in the area.
They said that being the only existing playground for the locals in around 20 kilometers area, the ground would be ceased, if artificial turf was laid.
“TRC ground is the only cricket playground for around 89 localities and 67 schools. If it is made of international standard, then the locals won’t be allowed to play there. Earlier they had said that polo ground would be developed exclusively for football but now there is hardly any sports activity,” said Umer Wani, General Secretary, DSF.
He said that they have maintained the ground with their own resources since last two decades and by constructing artificial turf on it, the authorities would allow only chosen ones to play there.
Secretary DSF, Javed Ahmad said that they brought good talent in the State by organizing coaching camps and practice sessions for the youth on the ground who had later participated at national level.
He said the authorities have already occupied a large portion of ground by constructing a sumo stand due to which they have been facing immense problems. “The authorities have objections with this ground from time to time as earlier they were intended to turn it into tulip garden which was cancelled after our repeated protests. But now the authorities are compelling us once again to protest against the same,” he said.

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