Proposal for setting up more tennis courts at Panjab University

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7

In a major boost to the sports infrastructure, Panjab University here is planning to set up more tennis courts, including the ones with flood lights, on its campus during the upcoming session.

A proposal in this regard has already been submitted by the officials concerned.

Along with tennis courts, the university also proposes to build a velodrome and a synthetic athletics track – both projects have been in the pipeline for many years.

“A proposal has been sent to the authorities to upgrade the existing infrastructure for tennis and also for building some new synthetic tennis courts. It has also been proposed to introduce flood lights at tennis courts,” said a source.

At present, the campus has two synthetic courts and has provision of grass courts, which have been lying unused since ages.

When asked about plans of introducing clay or grass courts, the source said it needed a lot of care and maintenance.

“We need permanent staff and resources for maintaining clay and grass courts. Given the structure, it’s not recommended to have these here,” said the source.

Besides setting up new courts, it has also been proposed to fence the arena, said the source.

Earlier, the Directorate of Sports, Panjab University, had said the funds collected through sports fee may get utilised in improving sports infrastructure.

“Laying of synthetic track and building a velodrome, these are a few projects hanging in balance for quite some time now. If funds are to be diverted, they should be used to make these two arenas to benefit the players,” said an official.