Nagpur: Shuttlers are enraged after sections of wooden courts at Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC)-run badminton hall in Vivekananda Nagar were reportedly dented during a Taekwondo tournament organised there recently.Mats were laid across the badminton courts and a stage set up for the tournament in the hall for the martial arts tournament. The mats and stage were removed after the event concluded, and badminton sessions resumed, but players alleged that they found dents on portions of the wooden playing surface. They also complained that the hall was left unclean and stinky after the tournament.One of the players, Girish Warhare, said that even minor damage to wooden badminton courts can affect the quality and safety of the playing surface. “The changing rooms were stinking, the wooden courts were dented, and equipment had been mishandled. The caretakers hired by the civic body here are ignorant. Despite repeated complaints, they didn’t take any measures to prevent the damage,” he said.Warhare pointed out that Vivekananda Nagar hall is an exclusive badminton facility. Citing the example of Nagpur University’s Subhedar Hall, he said NU has passed a resolution to ensure that no other sports are played there. “We want a similar arrangement at Vivekanand Nagar hall,” said Warhare. NU has decided to allow only badminton and table tennis matches at Subhedar Hall due to criticism over littering during a kickboxing tournament held there recently.Local corporator Lakhan Yerawar told TOI that NMC is responsible for maintaining the badminton hall in Vivekanand Nagar and ensuring that all equipment remains intact after a tournament is held. Questioning the caretakers, Yerawar said the hall must be handed back to players clean and without any damage. Yerawar also said he would be visiting the facility soon.
