Athletics event played under car headlights in Bangalore

Boys and girls participating in shot put event as part of the National Junior Athletics Championship were forced to perform under car headlights at Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore after sunset on Sunday, as the organizers had not requested for floodlights.

As the sun was setting on Bangalore, the organizers realized that they had to complete the Under 14 shot put event for both boys and girls on Sunday itself. The organizers had not requested for floodlights as they were under the impression that the event would be completed by 5.30 pm.

The Kanteerava stadium authorities could not help the organizers of the national athletic event at the eleventh hour as the generator operator had taken the day off on the Sunday. Though a few support lights were switched on, it did not help. Two cars belonging to the organizers were driven into the stadium and the headlights were switched on to “help” the participants.

With much discomfiture, the boys and girls competed for nearly half an hour under the headlights of two cars.

“We thought the event would get over by 5.30 pm. So we did not ask for floodlights. The athletes too had not requested us for any additional lights”, Secretary of Karnataka Athletics Association Sathyanarayana told reporters.

However, the conduct of shot put event in the national junior athletics championship under the headlights of car came under severe criticism from the Athletics Federation of India. “This is shocking. The organizers should have taken all necessary measures to help prevent such a thing”, said Secretary of Athletics Federation of India Lalith K Bhanoth.