Government Made Track for Athletes and Runners and Not for Dogs: Sportspersons Happy after IAS Officers' Transfer

Athletes practising at the Thyagraj Stadium were in a good mood on Friday morning after months of having to end their session prematurely so an IAS officer in New Delhi wanted to walk his dog. The order from the home ministry came after a social media furore triggered by a report by The Indian Express saying that athletes and coaches at the Thyagraj Stadium in the Indian capital — built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games — had to clear out by early evening so Khirwar could walk his dog. “On the brighter side — wherever the dog goes — Ladakh or Arunachal — it’ll have plenty of space to move around and walk… without having to shut down a stadium,” said one user. Our training and practice routine has been disrupted.” Stories of Indian officials abusing their positions for personal gain regularly provoke public anger in the world’s second-most populous country, and the paper quoted the parent of one trainee athlete at the stadium, which is used by national and state athletes and footballers, describing the situation as “unacceptable”.