The State Level Taekwondo Games, organized by the Department of School Education, unfolded at Anna Sports Ground along Kanchipuram Railway Road. Unfortunately, participants and their companions encountered severe challenges throughout the event, stemming from woefully inadequate facilities. Athletes from all corners of Tamil Nadu converged for the state-level Taekwondo Games, a prestigious competition that commenced just a few days ago. With over 2000 student-athletes participating, the scale of the event was substantial.
The predicament began on the first day when the boys’ events extended into the late hours, forcing exhausted athletes to rest on the streets near the stadium without access to basic necessities like clean drinking water, food, or shelter. The lack of proper arrangements was alarming, with some individuals resorting to sleeping beside rainwater canals.
Athletes and parents alike voiced their deep dissatisfaction, with a common grievance being the absence of clean drinking water. They were compelled to fetch water from a tank without any purification system in place. The dearth of essential facilities, including proper sanitation and restroom facilities, became a significant concern, especially with the girls’ events scheduled to take place soon.
One participant shared their frustration with the media, stating, “I hail from Tenkasi, which is quite a distance from here. The organizers have failed to provide us with suitable accommodation, and even access to clean drinking water is a challenge. The restroom facilities here are extremely unclean. While the boys’ events were supposed to conclude yesterday, they haven’t finished yet. We have received no information about when our (girls) events will commence. We find ourselves sleeping outdoors, near the canals, enduring countless mosquito bites. The lack of sleep has severely impacted our ability to concentrate and perform in our matches. Furthermore, our equipment is left unattended outside, while we are inside. Will our fellow athletes be able to compete effectively without worrying about their belongings? The organizers haven’t even made adequate accommodation arrangements for us. We must also manage our meals independently, often seeking food outside. Even accessing water is a challenge, and we must make our own arrangements. How can we be expected to focus under these conditions?”
A report from PuthiyaThalaimurai news pointed out shortcomings in the seating arrangements, with one parent telling the channel, “There are no restroom facilities or food arrangements here. We were informed that there would be no matches past 11:30 PM, and everyone dispersed around 1:30 AM to 2:00 AM. It is apparent that some referees lack the necessary qualifications, leading to considerable chaos inside the venue. They are not assessing the talents of young athletes accurately, and if we question their decisions, we are promptly dismissed. This is the unfortunate reality here.”
As the second round of the girls’ events is scheduled to take place in the coming days, coaches and athletes earnestly hope for improved accommodation and facilities. They expect clear communication regarding lodging arrangements and restroom facilities. They believe that the district physical education teacher overseeing the state-level competition will take appropriate action to address these pressing concerns.
Kanchipuram District Collector Kalachelvi Mohan, speaking with ABP Nadu news agency, acknowledged the issues at Kanchipuram sports ground and attributed them to inadequate planning by the school education department. She assured that responsible officials would face consequences, and efforts were already underway to rectify the situation.
In a response to the situation, SG Suryah, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Secretary of State, turned to the social media platform X to call out Tamil Nadu Sports Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin for his lackadiasical approach to the ministry he is in charge of. He expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “The Sports Minister of Tamil Nadu’s DMK Government, Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin, appears to lack an understanding of his responsibilities. Similarly, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. M. K. Stalin, does not seem to recognize his own responsibilities. The DMK’s governance is becoming a burden on Tamil Nadu.”
தமிழக தி.மு.க அரசின் விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சர் திரு.உதயநிதி ஸ்டாலின்(@Udhaystalin) தனது பொறுப்பு என்ன என தெரியாமலே அமைச்சராகி விட்டார்.
அப்பாவான தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு.மு.க.ஸ்டாலினுக்கும்(@mkstalin) தன் பொறுப்பு தெரியவில்லை, மகனுக்கும் தெயவில்லை.
தமிழகத்தின் சாபக்கேடு தி.மு.க. pic.twitter.com/5zEpbs0Yu2
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) October 1, 2023
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