CHENNAI: Not too long ago, Tamil Nadu javelin thrower T Dharanidharan represented India in the U-20 World Athletics and finished a creditable sixth. But that’s just a case in isolation as the state throwers find themselves in a tight corner — having to run from pillar to post just to attain permission for training at the Jawaharlal Nehru throwing sector.A separate throwing facility was constructed on the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium premises in Chennai and was inaugurated on Olympic Day by TN sports minister Aadhav Arjuna. However, close to 20 throwers, including state medallists, are yet to get permission to train at the centre.Generally, athletes have to apply online through the Sports Development Authority of Tami Nadu (SDAT) website to get permission to use the facility. However, in this case, the throwers were told to come through Tamil Nadu Athletics Association (TNAA). It has been close to a month since many athletes handed over the letter to the TNAA, but they have not received any update yet. Several throwers in the city do not have dedicated practice facilities and those available don’t meet international standards.A state medallist in hammer throw said that there is no clarity. “Why do we have to get permission from the association to use a government facility?” the athlete quipped. “This is something new and the request is still pending. A few athletes whom I know, submitted the letter before we did. The requirement for using the facility is that the athlete must be a state medallist.”An up-and-coming athlete in shot put too echoed the same sentiment and wanted the permission to be given at the earliest. “I currently train in my college which is far from my home. If I am allowed to use the Nehru stadium, then it will be easy for me to travel and time too will be saved. The infrastructure is good at the new venue.”The TNAA chairman (planning & execution Committee), C Latha, when asked about the issue, said: “Whatever recommendations I received, I forwarded them to SDAT, and the athletes received permission. I might have missed out on a few names. Also, I rejected names from a particular club because they were involved in malpractice. The throwing sector is small, and SDAT does not want injuries to occur. That is why they are asking us to recommend names. We will discuss this with all the throwers.”
