CUTTACK 01-Apr-2013 292
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik formally inaugurated the state-of-the-art Club Complex of Odisha Cricket Association at Barabati Stadium here today. On the occasion, OCA felicitated the Chief Minister with the `Icon of Seculiarism Award’ for the help he provided for the successful hosting of ICC Women’s World Cup matches, involving the Pakistan team in Odisha earlier this year.
With the addition of the OCA Club, a dream project of Odisha Cricket Association, the picturesque Barabati Stadium became the most modern cricketing hub of the country. Set up at a cost of Rs 35 crore, the club complex, features an international-standard swimming-cum-diving pool, synthetic tennis courts, indoor hall for badminton, table tennis, billiards-snooker, bowling, chess and carrom.
``The Pakistan women`s cricket team stayed in the OCA Club during the ICC World Cup earlier this year and the team-members, led by Sana Mir, were immensely happy with facilities, which were hurriedly made ready for the occasion. Now 75 per cent work is over and we are sure the OCA Club Complex will be ranked among the top three in the country along with such complexes in Mumbai and Bangalore,`` said OCA honorary secretary Asirbad Behera.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has provided 50 per cent assistance for the OCA Club Complex, which also has 15 air-conditioned rooms. ``Teams for first class matches can be accommodated in the complex. We, of course, have the plan to accommodate teams for international matches in the future,`` stated Mr Behera.
The OCA secretary described the swimming pool as the best feature of the Club Complex. ``The swimming complex is competent to stage international level championships. OCA is also going to start a round-the-year coaching programme in order to encourage youngsters take to competitive swimming. There will be coaches, trainers, physios and lifeguards for smooth running of the coaching programme on daily basis,`` claimed Behera.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore, the swimming complex, featuring a 50x25 metre international-standard swimming pool with eight lanes, a dressing room and a gallery to accommodate 10,000 spectators, is the second such facility in the state with the first one being the Biju Patnaik Swimming Complex at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
