National Games 2025: Track Patches and White Silica Sand in Long Jump Pit Raise Eyebrows Before Events

Dehradun, Feb 7: As the 38th National Games prepares to kick off its much-anticipated athletics events on Saturday (February 8), concerns over the newly installed facilities at the Ganga Athletics Stadium in Dehradun have caught attention.

The track and field venue, located at the Maharana Pratap Sports College, has undergone last-minute preparations that are drawing scrutiny.

The Uttarakhand state government undertook a rapid project to lay down a synthetic track after removing the previous World Athletics Class 2 Certified track, which had been installed as recently as 2022. Despite the authorities' claims of having successfully completed the new track by late January, there is no information available about certification from the global athletics governing body.

Concerns Over Synthetic Track Patches

Experts have pointed out that it is uncommon to host major events on newly laid tracks without proper settling and certification. The expedited timeline seems to have led to visible patches on the track, raising concerns about safety and durability.

When approached for comment, a local official downplayed the significance of the patches, attributing them to workers' shoe marks during the track's installation. "The patches you see are due to shoe marks by construction workers. They are not a cause for concern. They will wear off with time," the official stated.

Introduction of White Silica Sand in Long Jump Pits

Another notable development is the use of white silica sand in the long jump pits - a material rarely seen in India but widely used internationally for its shock-absorbing properties. However, neither the athletes practising at the venue nor the groundsmen seemed familiar with the new material.

"We have not seen this material used before. We're told it's marble dust, commonly used abroad," remarked one groundworker preparing the pits.

Hardness Issues and Solutions

Concerns were also raised about the hardness of the pit base, with ground staff revealing that a machine would be used to loosen the compacted sand before adding the silica layer for it had hardened and was prone to injury. "It was hard a couple of days ago, almost like it has limestone and it was solidified," a source informed myKhel.

While clarifying the rationale behind using the silica sand (purchased at Rs 5 lakh), the local official said: "The sand was brought from Gujarat, and we've mixed 20% sawdust with it. This marble-derived silica sand is considered the best material for long jump pits, even though it's not commonly used in India."

No Comment from AFI Officials

When asked about the hardness of the solidified sand, the introduction of silica sand and its implications, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials declined to comment.

High-Profile Events on Opening Day

Despite these concerns, excitement remains high for the opening day of athletics events, which will feature key competitions such as the men's and women's 10,000-meter finals, women's discus throw final, women's pole vault final, men's long jump final, men's and women's 100-meter finals, men's discus throw final, and the men's and women's 1,500-meter finals.