Chennai to host 2013 Asian athletics

CHENNAI: Big-time athletics will be back in India after a gap of 24 years. Chennai will host the 20th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships in 2013. New Delhi had hosted the 1989 Asian meet.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa told the assembly on Thursday that the Asian Athletics Association and Atheletics Federation of India had approved Chennai as the venue for the games to be held in August 2013 with the cooperation of the state government.
She further added that the government would be spending Rs 40 crore to develop the existing infrastructure facilities of the Nehru stadium in Chennai Indian star Shiny Wilson who represented the country in six Asian championships , said that nothing could compare to the feeling of showing one's skills in one's own country .
"First there is the home support. Nothing motivates you like the crowd egging you on . In Delhi the crowd cheered our every move," she recalled. "There is greater encouragement to do well."
Wilson's teammate Saramma Matthew added that the familiarity of the conditions was also helpful. "I remember when we used to go to other countries and had to struggle with the food and the weather. In this case , that's not going to be a problem. Traditionally India has always done well in the Asian championships and going by the performance in Commonwealth Games, can expect a good show," she said .
There was a feeling that Delhi would get the nod for the event, having hosted it in the past as well as having the facilities after the Commonwealth Games.
But Walter Devaram, President of the Tamil Nadu Sports Association, knew Chennai would get the nod. "Chennai was the first and only choice for the AFI and they knew that with the support of the CM, this event will be possible. When it comes to athletics we have a good record as hosts and this time we will do a good job," he said.