BHUBANESWAR: With Ranchi pulling out, Odisha Government has expressed its willingness to host the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship at Kalinga Stadium here.
The international championship is scheduled to be held from July 1 to 4. Nearly 800 athletes from 45 countries are expected to take part in the event. The winners of the Asian meet will get a direct berth for the World Championship in London from August 4 to 13.
With about three months to go for the event, Odisha has stepped in as Ranchi pulled out. Secretary of Athletic Federation of India (AFI) CK Valson visited the infrastructure at Kalinga Stadium on Thursday and met Sports and Youth Services Minister Sudam Marandi and Secretary Vishal Dev.
“I don’t know the exact reasons why Ranchi pulled out as the host. Since AFI is looking for a venue, the Government has expressed its willingness,” Dev told this paper. If things go as per plans, Odisha may host the event which will be staged in India for the third time. The previous editions of the Asian championship was held at New Delhi in 1989 and Pune in 2013.
The relaying of the synthetic track of the stadium is currently underway and the Government is hopeful that the track will be ready well before the meet.