Jaipur race walk course is world class: IAAF expert

The race walk competition course for the two-day National Championships which begins here tomorrow has come for praise from international experts as the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) hopes to host global events here.
Irishman Pierce O'Callaghan, who is an IAAF race walking judge, termed the Jaipur competition course, which will see top Indian race walkers in action tomorrow and on Sunday, as world class.
"It is a world class course. I have inspected it. The road (on which the course runs) is a great, clean, smooth and straight one kilometer lap. It should host other international events in future," O'Callaghan, who also conducted an IAAF Level-I Race Walking Technical Officials course here, said.

The competition starts in front of Rajasthan University and it will have a straight stretch of 1km. Those race walkers who will take part in 20km event will have 20 laps while those participating in 50km event will have to complete 50 laps.
"The temperature of around 20 degrees Celcius is also ideal. The course will be spectator friendly also and it is good for the walkers. This course is good enough for a IAAF Race Walking Grand Prix," he added.
According to O'Callaghan, with the new IAAF chief Sebastian Coe at the helm, 'sleeping giant' India will be an important country where athletics should develop.

AFI Secretary C K valson said that he hoped international race walk events are held here in future once the IAAF technical officials gives certificate of competence for this course.
"Under IAAF rules, for a race walk event to be considered for Olympic qualification, two international experts should certify the course. So, we have to have IAAF technical officials here. Once they certify the course, we hope to hold Asian and other IAAF level events here. I think Jaipur is the ideal place in the country for race walk championships," he said.
The other IAAF technical official here is Fung Wang Tak of Hong Kong.