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New Delhi: With the World Para Athletics Championships in mind, work to lay a new track at the hosting venue of New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be completed by September 1.
The mega event will be held in India for the first time from September 27 to October 5 for which work began to relay tracks at the main arena and adjacent training venue.
"We have completed 95% work of Mondo track laying inside main stadium as well as training area. Laying the base takes a lot of time, topping the base with Mondo does not take much time," Paralympic Committee of India President Devendra Jhajharia told PTI.
"Work on the base is completed, laying of Mondo on top has started. Everything will be completed by September 1," he added.
"Preparations for other things like transportation and accommodation of athletes, their escorts and officials, and other logistics have been according to schedule. Our aim is to host a hugely successful championships in all aspects and strengthen India's bid for 2036 Olympics and Paralympics."
Once the relaying process is over, a certificate is required from World Athletics for the track to be declared for to host world events.
"World Athletics experts will come as soon as laying of the track is completed. It should not take much time (to get the certification). There is a lot of time between September 1 and September 27," Jhajharia said.
"Having Mondo tracks both in competition and training area is a big thing. Our athletes -- both able-bodied and para -- will now be able to train and compete on Mondo tracks which is widely used now."
India won 17 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze) to finish sixth at the event's last edition in Japan last year, and are now eyeing a top five finish, with the country's largest ever contingent of around 100.
"Our performance is getting better in every Paralympics and World Championships. We will win more than 17 medals in Delhi," he said, adding that the New Delhi edition will have the maximum number of participating countries.
"107 countries have given us confirmation. So this is the highest ever in a World Para Athletics Championships in terms of number of countries taking part. All the top countries in para athletics like China, Brazil, Great Britain are taking part," the two-time Paralympics gold medallist said.
"In terms of total number of athletes, I am thinking that this will also be the highest but I cannot confirm now because Tuesday (August 12) is the deadline for sending entries to us. We have received entries from more than 75% countries but the total number will be known only after the deadline."
The PCI has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the opening ceremony and awaits his response.
