Athletes warm-up at JRD Tata Sports Complex on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, March 14: The Tatas are padding up to play.

Hectic preparations are on for two corporate sports events — Tata Inter-company Athletics Meet and Tata Steel-All India Chess Federation for the Blind FIDE Rated National chess tourney for the blind — that are going to unfold in the city from tomorrow.

Tata Steel sports department officials had their hands full today, sorting out last-minute details, from those related to the inaugural ceremony and accommodation to decking up the JRD Tata Sports Complex grounds.

While the Tata Inter-company Athletics Meet is a two-day affair scheduled on March 15 and 16, the chess tourney for visually-impaired has been lined up at a hall at the residential wing of the JRD Tata Sports Complex from March 15 to 19.

Sports department’s senior manager Charles Borromeo said they were expecting over 250 participants for the athletics event, most of whom had arrived.

“Some are expected to drop anchor tonight. We are seeking details from Tata Sports Club in Mumbai,” he added.

Borromeo, a Padmashri who claimed 800-m gold at Delhi Asian Games, said the Tata inter-company athletics meet was an annual event. “Mumbai had been a regular venue for the Tata Inter-company athletics meet but Jamshedpur is hosting it since last year,” he smiled.

But he could not divulge details of former international athletes who, as former or current Tata personnel, were supposed to come for the inter-company athletics meet.

Atul Sahay, president of All India Chess Federation for the Blind said they were expecting around 60 visually challenged participants for the tourney.

“Actually, 85 players from Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala, Orissa, Bengal and other states had confirmed their entries but we are not sure how many will finally turn up,” he added.

Sahay said three state players have also qualified for the tournament. “But we may also include some more players from the home state for the tourney as it helps in increasing their ratings,” he added.

In all, 19 rated players, including nine who have competed in international fixtures, are expected to turn up for the event.

The matches will be played under 9 round Swiss format.