'Shivaji Maharaj Test Games' to commence on National Sports Day

Pune Aug 27 (UNI) Shivaji Maharaj Test Games will get underway here on the National Sports Day, celebrated to perpetuate the memory of Indian icon Major Dhyanchand on August 29.

The test games will check the newly created ultra modern sports facilities in preparation for the third edition of the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Asia and that too in India for the first time so also the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi.

The Test Games will enable to have the first hand information regarding the world standard sports facilities, technical equipments and the facilities created pertaining to five star lodging and boarding as well. The state level games will also be the dress rehearsal for the volunteer force to be deployed for the CYG.

The Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) Joint Convener Pralhad Sawant, while giving the details said that events in nine disciplines namely Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Swimming, Shooting, Tennis, Table Tennis, Wrestling, and Weightlifting will be conducted in stages.

The first stage will include four discipline Badminton, Weightlifting, Boxing and Tennis.

The inauguration of the test games will be held on August 29 at 0900 hrs, which will herald the competition in Badminton and Tennis.

At the same time the weighing-in of the boxers and weightlifters will be conducted and the competition will commence from 1400 hrs onwards. Mr Sawant elaborated.

The second stage, include Wrestling and Table Tennis disciplines, gets underway from September 4 to 8, Mr Sawant said.

The last leg will involve Athletic, Swimming and Shooting disciplines to be held from September 9 to 11, Mr Sawant, who is also the Joint Secretary of the Athletic Federation of India (AFI), informed.

The Test Games will have a total 1,500 sportspersons, including technical officials, who will be performing in their respective disciplines of sports, Mr Sawant said.

UNI IS ZA RAR HT1908