Dehradun: A festive atmosphere enveloped the Maharana Pratap Sports College as athletes from various states gathered for the 38th edition of the National Games. They danced to the beats of the dhol and Bollywood numbers and raised the pre-Games excitement with their banter and laughter.

This is the third National Games being organised in four years and that is a huge lift given that not so long ago, the multidisciplinary event was fighting for survival. But with Gujarat, Goa and now Uttarakhand coming forward as hosts, the National Games is suddenly back on the domestic calendar.

However, it needs to be ensured that athletes remain the primary focus of the Games, and the occasion does not become only an opportunity of brand promotion by the host states. Sadly, that is the feeling one gets on city streets and at the Maharana Pratap Sports College which will host shooting, athletics, rugby, weightlifting, basketball.

It is difficult to spot even one hoarding or poster featuring the athletes, despite two of India’s Paris Olympics medallists -- Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh – set to take aim in the shooting range here. Even Uttarakhand’s most popular sportsperson, Lakshya Sen, is missing from the banners. Clearly, more thought has to go into keeping the limelight on athletes. In the opening ceremony, it was good to see Sen with the torch and leading the oath for the athletes

The current edition is spread across eight districts. From the plains of Haldwani and Dehradun, holy city of Haridwar to the hills of Almora, Tehri and Pithoragarh – the Games covers the length and breadth of the picturesque state. Close to 10,000 athletes will compete in 35 sports, which requires great logistical effort to pull it through.

However, a shortfall in accommodation has raised the challenge for the hosts. A basketball team coach told HT how three players are being lodged in one room. “It is a sport where most athletes are tall. So, three players in one small room are finding it difficult to adjust. It is a bigger problem for women athletes. We have requested a change,” informed the coach.

Major issues are being reported from the swimming pool in Haldwani. Several state teams and entire technical officials have been lodged one to two hours away near BhimTal and near Jim Corbett Park. A total of 500 athletes and officials are part of swimming and water polo competitions that are being held in the newly built swimming complex in Haldwani. With the competition starting early on Wednesday, the scoring equipment is yet to be installed and tested, it has been learnt.

“All technical staff and athletes are in Bhimtal and near Jim Corbett which is one-and-half of travel. The venue is yet not ready. The TSR (Time, Scoring and Results) equipment has to be installed and tested. The competition starts at 8.30 am and athletes will be in the pool early at 6 am. If they do it tonight well and good, otherwise we won’t have a scoring system. Nobody from the organisers is willing to take any responsibility,” said a technical official on condition of anonymity.

As the Games begin on Wednesday, one can only hope that sport takes centerstage and opening glitches are resolved. At least one such issue was taken care of when the boxing rings finally arrived in Pithoragarh, just a day before the event, where officials have been waiting to install the ring at Hari Singh Thapa Sports College. The competition starts on Saturday.

The athletes are excited to compete and give their best.

“We are really looking forward to the National Games,” said Kerala’s star basketball player PS Jeena who was captain of the Indian team in the 2018 Asian Games. “It’s my third National Games. For a basketball player it is an important tournament because we do not get much competition round the year. There is a National Championship and this is one. Through experience we will improve.”

While the National Games provide a good platform for many lesser-known sports, established athletes too have their reasons to take part. Shooting has been able to manage a marquee field with India’s top stars competing despite their packed schedule.

“It is now an important competition in the calendar. At the Goa Nationals, it was a good opportunity for me because I was on the comeback trail after a poor season. It turned out to be a good competition for me. So many games happening at one place is great and I wish we have it regularly,” two-time Olympian Anjum Moudgil told HT.

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