<div>The Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA) has submitted a memorandum to the Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sport, Pramod Madhwaraj, requesting that its activities at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium should not be hampered by the football games at the venue.<div><br /></div><div>The memorandum stated that football matches at the stadium have made it tough for the KAAA to conduct athletics events besides interfering with the athletes’ training programmes. JSW Sports, owners of the Bengaluru Football Club (BFC), have a deal with the DYES, allowing them to use the stadium.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, adhering to the instructions from the DYES, the JSW officials on Friday removed the fences laid around the turf prior to the start of the State Junior and Senior Athletics Championships.</div><div><br /></div><div>KAAA, who had initially agreed to JSW’s request to conduct throwing events at a different venue, however decided to hold javelin throw and shot put at Kanteerava itself. </div><div><br /></div><div>“Once the fences were removed as per request, we had all the rights to conduct the events on the field. In case of any change in condition of the turf due to our events, we will make sure the turf is ready in good condition for the AFC Cup football match on September 14,” said Chandrashekar Rai, Secretary, KAAA. </div><div><br /></div><div>Responding to KAAA’s decision to hold the throwing events at the Kanteerava, Mandar Tamhane, Chief Technical Officer, BFC, said: “We had requested them to move out the events which were to be conducted on the turf as they would damage the pitch. Since we have an international game coming up, we have to follow certain protocol to ensure the pitch is top-class. Now, nothing can be done. Even though they have said that they will fill the gaps with sand, you and I cannot correct it. We have a group of pitch experts on a yearly contract who have been doing this work. We still have some days to go for the AFC Cup game. We’ll rectify as much as possible.”</div></div>
<div>The Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA) has submitted a memorandum to the Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sport, Pramod Madhwaraj, requesting that its activities at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium should not be hampered by the football games at the venue.<div><br /></div><div>The memorandum stated that football matches at the stadium have made it tough for the KAAA to conduct athletics events besides interfering with the athletes’ training programmes. JSW Sports, owners of the Bengaluru Football Club (BFC), have a deal with the DYES, allowing them to use the stadium.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, adhering to the instructions from the DYES, the JSW officials on Friday removed the fences laid around the turf prior to the start of the State Junior and Senior Athletics Championships.</div><div><br /></div><div>KAAA, who had initially agreed to JSW’s request to conduct throwing events at a different venue, however decided to hold javelin throw and shot put at Kanteerava itself. </div><div><br /></div><div>“Once the fences were removed as per request, we had all the rights to conduct the events on the field. In case of any change in condition of the turf due to our events, we will make sure the turf is ready in good condition for the AFC Cup football match on September 14,” said Chandrashekar Rai, Secretary, KAAA. </div><div><br /></div><div>Responding to KAAA’s decision to hold the throwing events at the Kanteerava, Mandar Tamhane, Chief Technical Officer, BFC, said: “We had requested them to move out the events which were to be conducted on the turf as they would damage the pitch. Since we have an international game coming up, we have to follow certain protocol to ensure the pitch is top-class. Now, nothing can be done. Even though they have said that they will fill the gaps with sand, you and I cannot correct it. We have a group of pitch experts on a yearly contract who have been doing this work. We still have some days to go for the AFC Cup game. We’ll rectify as much as possible.”</div></div>
