BENGALURU: The Karnataka Athletics Association's (KAA) decision to shift the venue of the State meet from here to Udupi at short notice has put top athletes, many of whom train at the Sree Kanteerava stadium, in great difficulty as they struggled to get tickets to reach the new venue in time.
"It is hard for these athletes but they have no choice as the state meet is also the selection trials to pick the team for the Inter-State championships," a noted coach told TOI.
On Friday, Olympian Pramila Aiyappa sought the help of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). "The AFI calendar came out months back but the KAA couldn't arrange the dates for the state meet. They have changed the dates several times and yesterday they shifted it to Udupi," Pramila wrote in her letter to top AFI officials.
"If we complain, KAA officials even try to blackmail, including me. All the athletes are fed up with KAA and last year was the first time when there was not even a single athlete from Karnataka in the Indian Olympic squad," Pramila said in her letter.
Later, Pramila told TOI that AFI officials had taken note of the complaints. "But my daughter Unnathi Aiyappa will be forced to skip the meet as it has been moved to Udupi," she added.
Bangalore Urban District Athletics Association (BUDAA) secretary Reeth Abraham also voiced her concern. "We were ready to host the meet but the KAA didn't allow us," she said.
KAA secretary A Rajavelu didn't respond to calls.
