Fani Damages Stadiums In ‘Sports Capital’

Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Fani has inflicted significant damage to sports infrastructure in Bhubaneswar, which is called the “Sports Capital of India”

Kalinga Stadium — which became the cynosure of all eyes in November-December 2018, by hosting the World Cup hockey — has suffered partial damage, while Indoor Halls at Unit I and Sahid Nagar have also sustained losses.

Uprooted trees can be found on the premises of several playgrounds and fields, where cricket clubs practice in the city.

The devastation has come about a month before the eight-nation FIH Men’s Hockey Series Odisha 2019 is scheduled to get underway at Kalinga Stadium. The prestigious tournament, featuring India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa, USA and Uzbekistan, is slated from June 6 to 15. “We are trying to repair everything by May end. The tournament should be held as scheduled,” Secretary, Sports and Youth Services, Vishal Dev said.

Hockey India (HI) on Monday had confirmed that FIH Series Finals ( June 6-15) will be in the Odisha capital as scheduled.

The natural calamity did not spare Bhubaneswar’s twin Cuttack either, battering its stadiums and indoor halls. The famous Barabati Stadium, which in an international cricket venue, has been partly damaged. Some of the galleries, including the Sachin Tendulkar Stand and the media centre, have suffered the most with glasses and air conditioners getting damaged.

Odisha Cricket Association sources said the stadium authorities have taken stock of the damage. “The floodlight structures have been affected. We need to assess the quantum of loss and make efforts to repair everything as soon as possible,” an OCA official said.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, which is close to Barabati Stadium, too, has suffered losses with window panes lying shattered. Senior officers of Sports and Youth Services department have assessed the situation and repair work should commence soon, officials posted there said.