Ranjit Thakur
JAMMU, Apr 8: A promising 13-year-old speed skater’s journey to the national stage hit a roadblock just days before her departure for a prestigious skating event in Madhya Pradesh. Adhira Kanotra, gearing up for the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) event, suffered a serious elbow injury during practice at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu.
Adhira Kanotra, a 13-year-old speed skater quad, was preparing for the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) skating competition, which is set to take place in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, from April 11 to 15. During her practice, she skidded off from the cracks developed on the synthetic skating rink and broke her left elbow. She was immediately taken to hospital by her father for plaster.
The incident, attributed to the deteriorating condition of the synthetic skating rink at the stadium, has not only sidelined Adhira from the upcoming SGFI event in Satna but also forced her to miss the 5th Ranking Roller Skating Championship in Amritsar later this month.
Expressing her disappointment, Adhira lamented, “I’ve dedicated countless hours to training, balancing it with my studies, only to have my dreams shattered by this injury.”
“The synthetic rink floor has developed multiple cracks that make it difficult for players to practice on, but authorities seem to be least bothered about its deplorable condition. We have to practice on the damaged rink because we don’t have other options here, but I want the authorities to act seriously and repair the damaged areas of the skating rink,” Adhira told Excelsior.
Her father, Nitin Kanotra, echoed his sentiments, criticizing the authorities for neglecting the poor state of the rink. “It’s disheartening to see Adhira’s hard work go in vain due to inadequate facilities and infrastructure,” he remarked.
“Questions arise about the Government’s commitment to sports development when essential amenities like quality infrastructure and first aid facilities are lacking, leaving athletes vulnerable to injuries,” he said by adding “Adhira has already represented Jammu and Kashmir at National Skating events three times before and won medals at State level events many occasions.”
“The synthetic rink developed in Jammu is small in size of any national level rink and its condition is deteriorating rapidly. There is only one security guard to look after the whole area” A coach said on anonymity.
Baljinder Singh, the Divisional Sports Officer (DSO), expressed ignorance regarding the condition of the synthetic rink and stated, “he will look into the matter.”
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