Sports2 min
Mandi Residents Push for World-Class Multi-Sports Complex to Back Local Talent
Mandi's athletes, coaches and everyday fitness fans say Paddal Ground can no longer carry the town's sporting ambitions, and they want a modern complex built to match.
Residents of Mandi town in Himachal Pradesh are calling for a world-class multi-sports ground, arguing that the district's young athletes deserve training facilities that match their ambitions. Right now, they say, a lack of dedicated sporting infrastructure leaves local talent at a clear disadvantage.
The case rests on a simple problem. Paddal Ground is the town's main open space, and it is asked to do everything at once. Competitive players need structured training time, while joggers, walkers and families use the same field for evening exercise. When one group takes over, the other is squeezed out.
Sudhanshu Kapoor, a sports enthusiast and industrialist, says Mandi needs a purpose-built complex that goes well beyond the existing ground. He believes proper facilities would help young players sharpen their skills and pursue careers in sport, with a path that could eventually take them to state, national and international competition.
The idea also carries an economic argument. Supporters point to jobs that could grow around a facility of this kind, including coaching, fitness instruction, sports management and event organisation. For a town where residents are looking for new career routes for local youth, that could matter as much as the medals.
Paddal Ground's availability is another sticking point. The venue is occupied for long stretches during the annual International Shivratri Fair, when temporary stalls take over the space. It is also used for political rallies and public gatherings, especially during election periods, which leaves few windows for organised training. Ajay Rana, president of the District Cricket Association, Mandi, supports the proposal and links it to the town's wider growth, noting that Mandi is expanding quickly while becoming more crowded within its current limits.
Former national-level footballer and coach Narender Saini adds that the town's sporting spirit is already visible in the daily crowds at the ground. The challenge now is capacity, not interest. A separate multi-sports facility, residents argue, would give athletes their own space, let everyday users keep Paddal Ground, and possibly draw tournaments and training programmes that bring visitors and business to the town.
For Mandi, the conversation has moved past the question of whether the town needs another playground. The real question is whether it will build a lasting sporting asset that trains its athletes, creates livelihoods and keeps the town active. You can read the full report on Tribune India.
