Renovated stadium at IIT-Madras inaugurated

The renovated stadium with a state-of-the-art synthetic track at IIT-Madras campus here was inaugurated today.
The stadium is named "Manohar C Watsa Stadium" after the father of Prem Watsa, a 1971-batch Chemical Engineering graduate of IIT Madras, who inaugurated the stadium.
Prem Watsa, Chairman of Fairfax Financial Holdings, is one of the 150 alumni to be designated as a "Distinguished Alumnus" by the Institute.
A press release said the track area is about 5,300 sq.M. With provisions for long jump, triple jump and a pole vault platform.
Two warm-up practice steps of size 20 x 2.4 x 1.8 m have also been constructed adjacent to the track.

Facilities for other disciplines such as shot-put, football, and cricket have also been provided inside the inner bowl of the track, it said.
In addition, the gallery has been renovated with new flooring and an entrance gate with access to the differently-abled.
The track has been awarded "Class II Athletic Facility Certification" by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).