Kalinga Stadium undergoes renovations ahead of hosting World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level meet

The Kalinga Stadium has undergone some infrastructural changes to host the one-day World Athletics (WA) Continental Tour Bronze Level meet, a qualifying event for the World championships in Japan in September, here on August 10.

Around 150 athletes, including 50 foreigners, from 12 countries – including Turkmenistan, Bhutan, Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Iraq, Vietnam, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Iran, Maldives and India – are expected to participate in the meet. The last date for sending entries is July 15.

“Preparations have been going on for some time. Technical teams of WA and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) inspected the Kalinga Stadium infrastructure and suggested some changes, which we have done,” said Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj at a build-up event here on Friday.

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He expressed the Odisha Government’s desire to host more international athletics events in the future.

Several top athletes, including Asian championships silver medallist javelin thrower Sachin Yadav, eyeing a berth in the World championships, are expected to be part of the 100-member home team.

Competitions will be held in men’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 5000m, long jump, triple jump, javelin throw and 4x400m relay; women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 100m hurdles, long jump, javelin throw and 4x400m relay; and mixed 4x400m relay.