SHILLONG, FEB 3: Shillong is “Games ready”, the CEO (Shillong) RK Sharma of the 12th South Asian Games 2016, said on Wednesday and “all venues are in fine shape.”
Around 200 athletes and officials will have arrived by Wednesday end, with similar numbers expected tomorrow and Friday, which will also be the official start of the South Asian Games.
“Some athletes have already come and have begun practising, like the Indian archery and women’s football teams,” Sharma told the media in an interview at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports complex in the afternoon.
The CEO also touched on other aspects of the games, such as security, accommodation and medical.
Although there is tight security in and around all the venues in Shillong, Sharma said that “security always remains an area of concern,” as the authorities have to stay alert throughout.
“Players’ and officials’ accommodation has already been booked and elaborate transport arrangements have been made. Medical facilities are also geared up as and when needed,” Sharma informed.
Sharma also remarked about the importance of the more than 700 volunteers to the success of the Games.
“In any sports event volunteers play a vital role. They are the bridge between society, the organisers and players. Whatever memories the players will have (of the Games) will come through interaction with the volunteers,” Sharma added.
INDIAN ARCHERY TEAMS
The Indian archery team is in Shillong for the 12th South Asian Games.
While the team for the compound event was seen practicing at the Cricket Ground, Polo where arrangements have been made for the same, the Recurve team which arrived on Wednesday was not seen in action.
The India side is hopeful of a good show in the multinational event.
The compound event team comprises of P Lily Chanu, V Jyothi Surekha, Swati Dudhwal and Purvasha Sudhir Shinde in the women’s category and Rajat Chauhan, Abhishek Verma, Manash Jyoti Changmai and C Srither in the men’s category.
The Indian Recurve team, meanwhile, comprises of Jayanta Talukdar, Binod Swansi, Tarundeep Rai and Gurucharan Besra making up the Recurve men’s team and Deepika Kumari, L Bombayla Devi, Madhu Vedwan and Laxmirani Majhi for the women’s event.
Meanwhile, the Bhutan archery contingent also attended a practice session at the JN Complex. The 16-member contingent, eight in compound and eight in Recurve are hopeful of a better show in this edition of the games.
Coach Tashi Thsering said his side is determined to bag some medals here and is ready to take on the mighty Indian Team.
The weather in Shillong, meanwhile, is just perfect for the Bhutanese who are used to harsher conditions.
The Archery event for the 12th South Asian Games is slated to begin on February 5 with the qualification rounds. Individual matches will follow on the 6th.- By Our Reporter
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