Indian athletics legend P.T. Usha said here on Monday that facilities at Mangala Stadium, the venue for the five-day Federation Cup or National Senior Athletics Championship from April 30, here are “not of international standards.” But national events could be conducted, she added.
“The facilities here are good for national events. You need advanced training equipment to host an international event,” she told The Hindu .
Ms. Usha was at the stadium with her five wards, including ace sprinter Tintu Luka, from the Usha School of Athletics for training on the synthetic track.
She said that the stadium was looking better than it was when she visited a few months ago.
“It is good that the meet (Federation Cup) will be organised here,” she said noting the changes, namely laying of lawn in the centre of the stadium. “It should have been held far early,” she said.
The veteran sprinter hoped that cement blocks would be laid in the stadium to separate the lawn and the track.
Ms. Usha said that Tintu will take part in the Federation Cup in Mangaluru. Three of her wards were attending the trials in Goa for the Asian Youth Championship.
She said as the Federation Cup was the first athletics event of the season, athletes would not be in prime condition.
“You can expect a better show in the inter-university meets that will follow,” she said and added that performance at the Federation Cup would hold in good stead for athletes preparing for the Asian and World Athletics championships.
The humid weather conditions of Mangaluru would not cause problem for athletes.
“This is far better than Lucknow where the trials for Commonwealth games were held when the temperature was 42 degrees Celsius last year,” she said.
