Balbir Singh (left) inspects the XLRI auditorium during his visit. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, June 18: If everything goes right, the steel city can look forward to hosting international weightlifting contests in the future.

Impressed by the infrastructure here, Balbir Singh, secretary of the Weightlifting Federation of India said not only can the event for the forthcoming National Games be organised in 15 days notice but the infrastructure can also host international events.

Singh, an Arjuna Awardee, after inspecting the XLRI auditorium, said: “Who needs so many months for conducting the event. If we were given just 15 days, we would have been able to host it as Jamshedpur has all the facilities needed to host a national event.”

Singh also gave suggestions about where to put up the federation office, doping centre, information centre and relaxation place for players to the secretary of the Jharkhand Weightlifting Association, T.D. Roy and Tata Steel sports department head, Harbhajan Singh. “Although the infrastructure is aptly suited for hosting the event, some improvisation is needed. Although the infrastructure here is of international standards, hosting an event here would depend on the bid which every country gives for hosting international tournaments,” he said. Singh later met the sports department chief, Satish Pillai.

Senior Tata Steel officials said that after Singh’s assurance, Pillai has assured the federation about initiating the process for bidding of international tournaments here.

The federation also intends to encourage Jharkhand lifters, especially women lifters, who have been doing very well in the national and international circuit. “It is a relatively new state and awareness about the game needs to be spread,” said Balbir Singh adding that the federation plans to conduct many conditioning camps and give lifters foreign exposure.