After months of uncertainty and three cities refusing to become the hosts, the Asian Athletics Championships will finally be held in Pune from July 3-7.
Just a little over a month left for the prestigious event, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) today said that the Sports Complex at Balewadi in Pune will play the host.
"Pune will host the Asian Athletics Championships from July 3 to 7. It's the final decision and the Asian Athletics Association has given us the go ahead," AFI President Adille Sumariwala told PTI.
AFI Secretary General C K Valson said that the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has signed the approval letter.
"We have been told officially that the letter of approval has been signed by the Maharashtra Chief Minister and the document is expected to reach us anytime. So, it's final that Pune will host the Asian Championships from July 3-7. We are starting the preparations," he said.
"The AAA has got back to us, saying it has informed the member countries about the venue and to make their travel preparations," he added.
This is the second time the continental showpiece event is being held in India after New Delhi hosted the Championships in 1989.
The AFI officials must be heaving a sigh of relief as they have found a host city at the last minute after three months of search. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had on February 21 cancelled the event, which was scheduled to be held in Chennai, on the ground of the anti-Sinhalese sentiments prevailing at that time.
Ranchi and New Delhi were in the running and the respective state governments showed initial readiness only to refuse to host the Championships later on. Any delay on the part of the AFI officials might have seen the event being taken away from India as there was only a little over a month left for the start of the Championships.
