JOIN USThe biggest basketball championship to be held in Karnataka in a decade kicks off from Wednesday but the playing conditions in store for the best talent from around the country is, to say the least, pathetic.
While the outdoor facility at the Sree Kanteerava complex, which will host a mere four matches of the Federation Cup, has been spruced up by a generous dose of yellow paint and banners which run the length of Court ‘A’ and ‘B’, the indoor court is not fit to host a league game, let alone a championship of this magnitude.
The stadium, which has been under renovation for the past couple of years, presents a sad picture, the countless exhibitions having taken a toll on the wooden surface.
Splits in the panels, haphazardly covered holes leading up to the ring, a series of lines which make spotting the right lines to shoot from almost impossible -- that is what is on offer and with teams like Punjab Police, Indian Air Force in the fray, it would not be a surprise to see a couple of complaints coming from the players.
Even on Tuesday evening, less than 24 hours before the start of the tournament, labourers were seen working hard to fix the court. Motor saws were used to remove unnecessary lines inside the ‘D’ and once it was done, the surface was drenched with water -- against common wisdom.
Even if the organisers do manage to get the court ready in time, the players will be wary of going all out, fearing serious injuries. The conditions will certainly result in unpredictable bounce, making even the best of the players look like amateurs in the bargain.
Karnataka Basketball Association president K Govindraj, however, said the courts will be ready on time and lashed out at the Department of Youth Services and Sports for not maintaining the stadium properly. “There is nothing to worry about. We have got this under control,” he said. “There is little we can do when so many exhibitions are being held on that surface. We are looking to relay the surface soon and we are also asking the goverment to ban all exhibitions from being held at the indoor stadium.
“They (DYSS) have not maintained the stadium properly. They don’t seem to have any vision. It is really hard for us to work under such circumstances.”