Talkatora opens for boxers ahead of Commonwealth Championships

The Talkatora Indoor Stadium was Wednesday inaugurated amid much fanfare and will be thrown open to Indian boxers preparing for the Commonwealth Championships by 1st March to help them get a feel of the arena ahead of the 10th to 18th March event.

The dome-shaped arena, which would also host the boxing competitions of the Commonwealth Games later this year, has been renovated at a cost of Rs 150 crore.

Inaugurated by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi Wednesday, the stadium's seating capacity has, however, come down from 3000 to 2700 after the renovation.

"It belongs to the boxers now. They can come here and practice for the Commonwealth Championships. It's there's," Kalmadi said.

"It's a world-class facility and meets all the requirements set by the Commonwealth Games Federation," he added.

The arena will have a boxing ring erected inside by 1st March.

"By 1st March or latest by 2nd March, a boxing ring will be erected inside," said Competition Director for the championship Lenny D'Gama.

Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh, Commonwealth Games gold winner Akhil Kumar and Asian champion Suranjoy Singh were among the boxers who had demanded that the stadium be made available to them at least a week ahead of the championship.