Neeraj Chopra Classic finds new home in Bengaluru, but Kanteerava track needs urgent revamp

Bengaluru: The preparations to move the Neeraj Chopra Classic from Panchkula to Bengaluru was on for the last one week with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) sounding out the Karnataka Athletics Association who in turn approached the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES) to reserve the venue for four days from May 20.
The event was shifted from Panchkula to Bengaluru due to inadequate lighting at the original venue for live telecast. “After NC Classic was scheduled in Bengaluru, plans were still on till the last minute to organize the event in Panchkula before Bengaluru was finalised as the venue,” sources told TOI.

With the Sree Kanteerava stadium being used by Bengaluru FC to host ISL matches, the recent Indian Grand Prix was held at the SAI South Centre on the outskirts of the city. Even when the Kanteerava hosted national meets the field events were kept out of the main stadium.
“The Kanteerava track is in bad shape as the new synthetic turf has worn out in quick time. But the run-up to be used by the javelin throwers appears intact as it has been hardly used. But there is an urgent need for a revamp as the rest rooms are still in bad shape,” sources said.