On a sporting high

Ooty: Nilgiris with its refreshing yet challenging weather profile is considered a blessing in disguise for sportspersons to develop their endurance skills and stamina as high altitude training would help them adapt better to compete in the international level, especially, in the western world. 

 Though there was hue and cry for setting up a high altitude training centre (HATC) in the hills a decade ago, it failed to take off for a many years.

But, late chief minister J. Jayalaithaa made an announcement during September 2015 for such a HATC facility right in Ooty town to be established through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. The existing space around the HADP open air stadium here was chosen to set up HATC at Rs 5 crore.

The government then had also sanctioned Rs 7 crore separately to lay a world class a synthetic track in the HADP open air stadium.

Though the works related to lay synthetic track began with a roar around 2016, it failed to maintain the pace over the past two years as the works is dragging at snail’s pace.

The inordinate delay in completing the synthetic track laying works has already taken the toll of regular football coaching and tourneys at the football ground at the HADP stadium, which hosted two National championship tourney for Santosh trophy in the past.

There were whispers in the air that delay in sanctioning of funds and usage of inferior quality synthetic materials in the initial stages were the reasons for the synthetic track works to drag for nearly two years now.  But, the sports department officials chose not to comment on it.

However, the setting up HATC works which began a year ago is progressing in appreciable way and expected to be completed in a few months.

Sports department official sources said that at HATC is a modern facility to keep pace with the sports development.   “A dormitory to accommodate around 120 persons, solar-powered bath facility, gymnasium, physiotherapy unit, other necessary equipment and other facilities to treat sports injuries will be part of the HATC in Ooty to train the sports persons from across the country, sources maintained.”

Meanwhile, C.Rajendran, secretary, Nilgiris Athletics Association, said that  high altitude training in sports will help sports persons to get adapted to mountain conditions,  wherein the oxygen level is slightly less, as it help the sports persons  to build extra endurance capability, skill and stamina that would  help them compete with comfort in various  climatic zones across the globe. 

“Quite a few sports persons used to come to Nilgiris to train and practice in long distance events at their personnel interest.  The HATC will be a gift for sports coaching and training.  Even locals can use it to their advantage to hone their sports skills, especially in the track events,” he said.