Greater Noida, October 30: When the Uttar Pradesh Table Tennis Association (UPTTA) allotted Gautam Buddh Nagar District Table Tennis Association to play hosts to the 62nd UP State Ranking Table Tennis Championships, there were some apprehensions and, justifiably, too.

One, it was the first such experience for the GBNDTTA and, two, whether the local association will have the wherewithal-infrastructure, playing conditions, accommodation for players and officials, hygienic food and transport-during the three-day championships between October 30 and November 1.

The fear was not only unfounded but event exaggerated. Every official from UPTTA and TTFI that visited the venue-Gautam Buddh University at Greater Noida-was simply bowled over. The state ranking championships, conducted in memory of late Dr R. N. Srivastava, has found a compact indoor venue of 60x40 metres arena with complete flooring, lighting, central air-conditioning system and having a seating capacity of nearly 8,0000 people! The indoor stadium forms part of the Eklavya Sports Complex of the GBU.

And there are more to it than what meets the eye-all in positive sense. An international tournament can be organized without a hitch, all under one roof. For, you have 500 rooms (all double beds)-200 at international hostel and 300 at national hostel with Wi-Fi connectivity and large dining halls. The rooms are comparable to any four-star hotel accommodation-the impressive pathway, foyer, wide stairs and modern lifts and, above all, the surroundings put you in a different world. Just 40-50 kilometres away from Delhi and absolutely insulated from all types of pollutions, the stadium with huge parking facilities majestically stands in the 500-odd acres of campus that GBU has built. The maintenance of the entire campus, not to speak of the stadium or hostel accommodation, is impeccable.

As for the rentals, stadium charges to accommodation are all more than reasonably priced. The indoor stadium has all the usual facilities such as male, female change rooms, wash rooms, spacious reception hall, enough rooms and lounges to cater to all needs of hosting an international sport event.

The stadium is worth a visit because sports federations are starved off such venues within Delhi when they want to host national or international events because most of Delhi venues are pre-booked for various functions and sport meets. And cost factor also come as a deterrent in Delhi.

The UPTTA should profusely thank the GBNDTTA and GBU for throwing open a very good option   and be an eye-opener for many struggling federations that want to host both national and international championships.

Meanwhile, the UP state ranking championships entered the second day with over 300 boys and girls in different categories participating. The event, which was inaugurated on Friday by District Commissioner (Meerut) Alok Sinha, in whose father’s memory the championships is conducted, in the presence of TTFI secretary-general Dhanraj Choudhary.

Among the other dignitaries present during the inaugural function were UPTTA Secretary Arun Banerjee, Treasurer N. K. Lahiry, sports officer Sunil Joshi (Ghaziabad) and GBU stadium in charge and officials from host association GBNDTTA.