Thyagaraj stadium impresses

Named after the legendary Carnatic musician Saint Thyagaraja, this stadium can house nearly 5,000 spectators and will host netball matches in this edition of the CWG, beginning on October 3.

This complex is the most urbane among all the venues and has met most of the international norms including being eco-friendly. There are escalators and stairs to enter the stadium and a host of other modern facilities. But the most notable feature is a power generation plant capable of producing 3.5 MW, ensuring 24x7 power supply.

“We can host matches at this venue at a notice of two hours. This is a certified green venue and has met all the international guidelines,” CWG Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.

But on the flip side too much money, nearly Rs 250 crore, seemed to have been spent on a venue that will host a relatively low-key event like netball. Even this venue is not entirely free of flaws. Maplewood was used to build the Field of Play (FOP) and many teams including, Australia and New Zealand, have expressed their concerns.

They fear that the Maplewood flooring is too soft to withstand the heat and humidity, leading to ankle injury to players.

“We have prepared the floor according to guidelines from international netball body. We will have full-time air-conditioning at the venue once the competition starts and the power plant here will ensure that we have 24x7 power supply. So, there is no need for fear,” OP Bhatia, the venue administrator, said.