Kanpur’s Green Park stadium gets new deputy director

LUCKNOW: The state government on Monday appointed Mudrika Pathak as deputy director (sports) at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. A former national handball player, Mudrika was promoted only last year. She was posted at Azamgarh before being shifted to Kanpur.

The post of deputy director (sports) was vacant since long at the state government’s only Test centre. Joint director (sports) Anil Kumar Banodha was the last man to hold the post before being shifted to the UP Sports Directorate here a few years ago.

Mudrika’s shifting to Kanpur also brought an end to the additional charge of Chitrakoot Dham’s regional sports officer of who was looking after the Kanpur affairs for the last two years. Recently, the stadium was in the news for the alleged holding of an engagement ceremony at the Sports Directorate Pavilion during the lockdown period, violating provisions of the Disaster Management Act and recovery of huge number of liquor bottles in the dustbin.

“I am here to work for sports development in the region,” Pathak said, soon after assuming charge on Monday evening. “Routine sports activities at Green Park Stadium would only be restored once the UP Sports Directorate gives the green signal for this. So far, sporting venues in the region are open only for yoga practice and walks,” she said.

“Children below 10 years and people above 65 years of age are barred from entering stadium as per the government’s guidelines in view of the corona virus pandemic.”

She also said entry at sporting venues across the region would only be allowed to those who hold valid registration as it was necessary to maintain records of each individual.

“Thermal screening, hand washing and proper sanitization at the entry gate of the stadium are a must from now onwards.”

SHE ALSO SAID ENTRY AT SPORTING VENUES ACROSS THE REGION WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO THOSE WHO HOLD VALID REGISTRATION AS IT WAS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN RECORDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL