New Delhi hosts first invitational archery contest before Commonwealth Games

The second day of the first invitational archery contest saw lively marksmanship by participants at the newly set up Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The event is regarded as a yardstick to gauge India's preparedness for the Commonwealth Games.

The archery arena at Delhi's Yamuna Sports Complex was thrown open for the test archery competition, which began on March 8.

Over 100 archers from India as well as 10 other countries are taking part in this contest, organised by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) in collaboration with the Archery Association of India (AAI).

Despite such an international event taking place, the authorities admitted that a major part of the construction work is yet to be completed.

The sports complex was initially scheduled to be ready by December 2009 but got delayed in the construction. Although few of the infrastructure facilities like change rooms and medical centre are yet not completed.

At present, however, only the grandstand, with the capacity of 1,500 spectators, is complete while some work remains on training and competition areas.