Throwers Unable to Access New Facility at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium

Close to 20 track and field throwers, including state medallists, are unable to access the newly constructed throwing facility at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium premises in Chennai due to pending administrative approvals.

The dedicated throwing sector was built on the stadium grounds and officially inaugurated on Olympic Day by Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna. Despite the opening, local athletes have struggled to secure permission to train at the venue.

Typically, athletes seeking to use such infrastructure apply online through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) website. However, for this specific facility, throwers were instructed to route their applications through the Tamil Nadu Athletics Association (TNAA).

It has been nearly a month since several athletes submitted their letters to the TNAA, yet they have received no update regarding their access. A state medallist in hammer throw noted that there is currently no clarity regarding the clearance process.

The delay leaves several throwers across the city without dedicated practice grounds, as other available facilities fail to meet international standards. While Tamil Nadu javelin thrower T Dharanidharan recently represented India at the U-20 World Athletics, finishing sixth, other state throwers continue to face procedural hurdles in securing training access at the new venue.