Weddings over sports? Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi faces a crisis

One of the best sports complexes in India is located at Balewadi, Pune. The Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex. One may soon have to use the words ‘was located’ instead of ‘is located’. The sports academies housed at the complex have been asked to wind up their operations by March 31. The stadium doesn’t just house world class facilities, it plays host to academies led by some of the best in India. A shooting training center run by Gagan Narang, a badminton program run by Nikhil Kanetkar, the table tennis tennis facility maintained by Bhishan Thakur, and more.

Bronze medallist Gagan Narang runs a famous academy at the complex.

This development is all the more surprising as the state sports minister Padmakar Valvi had made a promise to extend the contract of all academies for five years and roll back the 10 percent hike in the lease fees, during a function to honour Gagan Narang for winning the 10m air rifle bronze in London.

“I am very surprised. After doing all the good work, we get this letter. I just can’t understand this. We were looking forward to the agreement being renewed and had even agreed on a fee hike. It takes so long for a sport contract to be renewed but if a marriage is to be held (at the complex), it gets cleared within two days. We will appeal to the CM and the sports minister.” said Pawan Singh, a director at GFG (Gun For Glory).

It comes as a shock because the state government is fully aware that our academy caters to international shooters who win medals for India. Singh said, Gun For Glory paid an annual rent of Rs 5 lakh 39 thousand to the sports department. “Ours is not a business venture. We run an academy where people come to train and win laurels for the country.” said Singh.

He added that now his academy has been told to pay an additional 10% or quit Pune’s most famous sports complex. Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association treasurer Sunder Iyer said “What is the point in having an international class facility in our city and not using it? Do they have any alternate plan?”

The academies have been issued a ‘stop-activity’ letter from state deputy director of sports and youth affairs Janak Tekale who is in charge of the venue. But hope still remains for the facility as the Maharashtra sports minister Padmakar Valvi commented,“I feel it was not the right thing to do. We should respect our Olympians (Gagan Narang and Nikhil Kanetkar) and support them morally as well as logistically. It is very unfortunate that the academies were sent (termination) letters. I want to say that we, at the ministry, respect our sportspersons and their academies. We got in touch with the sports minister who has assured us that the notice would be taken back and a fresh Memorandum of Understanding for five years would be signed.”

One indication of what the the facilities can be used for is, weddings. The son of state forest minister Viswajeet Kadam had his wedding here. The Balewadi Sports complex is where Shireen Limaye played in the FIBA Asia U-16 Championship in 2009 and was adjudged as the Rebound Ace for the tournament. She counts that as one of the most memorable moments of her career thus far. “I was declared a Rebound Ace. Whohhhhh! What a moment that was! And that too in front of all my loved ones and my friends in my home town. That was indeed an unforgettable moment for me to receive such an award.”

And now we are on the verge of losing such a complex to other activities amongst weddings. Of course those are important too, among other things, which the officials may have planned for the facilities. But it’s difficult to think of anything, which could take priority and justify shutting down one of the best sports facilities in India.

Lets hope the Maharashtra sports minister resolves the issue fast and saves the complex and its academies, which are the breeding grounds for potential Olympic talent.