By IANS,
New Delhi : Days after the first venue for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) was inaugurated, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Friday inaugurated the Ludlow Castle wrestling training centre – the first built by the state government.
“The inauguration marks the completion of first Commonwealth Games venue being constructed by the Delhi government. The wrestlers of the national capital now have a great training facility,” Dikshit said in her address after the inauguration.
“Once the Games are over, it will be very useful for children too. By next month, Thyagraj stadium, which is built using latest technology, will also be completed,” she added.
The centre is the second venue for the games to be completed. Sports Minister M.S.Gill Sunday opened the revamped Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the first Commonwealth Games venue to be ready.
Though the government had sanctioned Rs.20 crore (Rs.200 million) for the Ludlow Castle project, it was completed at a cost of Rs.13 crore (Rs.130 million) in 11 months. Earlier on the place was a badminton hall, which was demolished for the construction of wrestling training centre.
The centre has two floors. The ground floor has various facilities like restrooms, gym, cafeteria, physiotherapy centres, doping control centre, changing rooms, sauna bath and a medical centre. The first floor has a training hall which can accommodate six mats at a time.
The venue is centrally air conditioned with power back up facility.
CWG Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and Public Works Department Minister Rajkumar Chauhan were also present on the occasion.