On revamp road

Ranchi, July 17: Abashed by an unfit tag in hosting a certain national camp, the Jaipal Singh Munda Mega Sports Complex in Hotwar has decided to sweat it out.

The state sports department — left red in the face when the national youth athletics training camp for the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France, was shifted to Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Morabadi last month — has decided to arm all the nine stadiums in the Hotwar game zone with multi-gyms.

In fact, it is going an extra mile to ensure that every other stadium in Jharkhand boasts multi-fitness gear. The department today floated a tender, inviting bids from suppliers of fitness equipment.

Officiating director, sports, Amitabh Kumar conceded that the Morabadi stadium was the only game zone flaunting a special exercise hub, but confirmed that all other stadiums would very soon follow in its footsteps. “A modern fitness joint in every stadium is our priority because sportspersons need to work out regularly to stay fit. Each multi-gym is expected to cost us Rs 8-9 lakh, but we are not willing to make a compromise when it is a question of stamina,” he said.

Kumar explained that multi-gyms allowed one to exercise every muscle on single fitness equipment. On funds for setting up multi-gyms, he claimed that the department had enough to sponsor the facility in every stadium across the state. “We will open the tender to select a supplier on August 1,” Kumar said, adding that the stadiums could expect the facility within two months from then.

Besides all the nine stadiums in Hotwar, Albert Ekka Stadium (Simdega), Lalit Narayan Stadium (Lohardaga) and Indoor Badminton Stadium and Indira Gandhi Stadium (Dhanbad) will soon flaunt the multi-gyms.