Bhubaneswar, July 4: The International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) today expressed satisfaction over the infrastructure of Kalinga Stadium, which will host the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships between July 5 and July 9.
The sport body today also said that sprinter Dutee Chand was eligible to take part in the event.
IAAF president Sebastian Coe said that though he got a glimpse of the main stadium, he interacted with the athletes in the warm-up area. "The athletes are pleased with the arrangements. Arrangements at the warm-up track at the stadium are of high standard," said Coe.
Hosting the championship became a massive challenge for the state government after the Jharkhand government pulled out of holding the event in Ranchi. The state government worked on a war footing to upgrade the stadium's infrastructure and managed to come up with new floodlights and a synthetic track within three months.
"The timely completion of infrastructure upgrade work has been instrumental in introducing the state as an emerging sports hub in the country and this will also pave the way for establishment of an athletics academy in the state in the near future," said sports secretary Vishal Dev.
In another development, the IAAF has decided to reopen the case between Dutee and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and the International Athletics Association (IAAF) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Dutee was banned from competing in national and international events in 2014 after she was tested high for levels of androgen.
"Dutee can take part in the event and she is also eligible to qualify for the World Championship in London scheduled to take place next month," added Coe.
Sports department officials said nearly 800 athletes from 44 countries would take part in the event.
The winners will qualify for the World Championship to be held from August 4 to August 13 in London.
"Around 42 track and field events will be held in the championship and 20 world champions are likely to take part," said a sports department official.
