With just 11 months to go for the Commonwealth Games,the Sports Authority of India (SAI),like other government agencies,has been directed to be on its toes and ensure completion of the stadia under its control. The directive from the sports ministry,with MS Gill in charge of all infrastructures for the Games,seems to have been taken in right earnest. The first sign of it came when SAI,on priority basis,moved veteran administrator Manmeet Singh Goindi to the Dr Karni Singh shooting range from its corporate office last week. Goindi,who has served three stints at the range,has already taken charge and things have started moving in right direction,according to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) officials. The officials said they were hopeful of smoothly conducting the Commonwealth Shooting Championship in February 2010. Since we had to cancel the World Cup scheduled in March,this championship will now serve as a test event for the Commonwealth Games, said one of the officials. Even SAI sources confirmed that all equipment for rifle,pistol,shotgun and other overlay items have arrived at the range and the installation of equipment will be completed by the end of this month. As for the ammunition,officials say the process has been set in motion and it will arrive well in time for the shooters to practice at the range,when it is thrown open for them. SAI has also initiated the process of transferring senior,experienced officials to other venues like the National Stadium,Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and the Talkatora swimming complex. Those chosen to head the stadiums are SS Roy,Mukesh Kumar and Roque Dias in that order all of them being serving directors in SAI. Rachana Govil,another director,is likely to be made overall in charge of all stadiums. These moves have been necessitated keeping in view the urgency of getting things done at the venues,said a SAI source.
