Shivaji's statue to be installed at youths games venue

Pune, Jan 4 (UNI) A mounted statue of Maratha warrior king Shivaji will be installed at the entrance gate of the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City at Mahalunge-Balewadi here, the main venue for the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.

This was informed by city MP and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi while speaking to reporters here today.

Mr Kalmadi said he had met ''Shivsaheer'' Babasaheb Purandare, an authority on the life and reign of Shivaji, and the latter had readily agreed to oversee all details pertaining to the creation of the statue.

Mr Kalmadi said the memorial will be unique and will be of international standards. Mr Purandare has been entrusted the responsibility of appointing the sculptor and other artists to undertake the landscaping work to beautify the statue ahead of the Games.

Mr Purandare will also be presenting a tableau, depicting the life and culture of the Marathas during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji, at the opening ceremony of the Games, Mr Kalmadi said.

A large number of sports personalities had mooted the idea of building a memorial for Shivaji at the sports city which has been named after the Maratha warrior king.

Among these sports personalities were former Olympian and hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay, Rustom-e-Hind Harishchandra Birajdar, Adille Sumariwala, Balkrishna Akotkar, Manoj Pingale, Dhyanchand awardee Smita Yadav (Shirole), Kaka Pawar, Surekha Dravid, Indian Women's Cricket Association (IWCA) secretary general Shubhangi Kulkarni, Rachita Mistry, Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA) secretary general Prof Balasaheb Landge, among others.

Meanwhile, hectic preparations are underway at the Games venue in order to provide the best facilities. Sportspersons from 71 countries will be participating in the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games which will see competition in nine disciplines.

UNI