Khar Gymkhana’s Padel Court Proposal Sparks Debate Over Cricket Ground Legacy

Mumbai: The Khar Gymkhana, which has over 4000 members, is considering a proposal to construct padel courts on an open space currently used as a cricket ground, triggering opposition from members who fear the move could affect the club’s cricketing legacy.

The Gymkhana had convened a special general body meeting a few months ago to seek members’ approval for the proposal. However, the managing committee is yet to take a final decision.

Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.

Gymkhana president Gaurav Kapadia declined to comment on the matter.

Abhijeet Deolekar, a life member of the Gymkhana and a prominent voice of opposition to the proposal, told The Free Press Journal that the issue was not about opposing padel but preserving the cricket ground and ensuring that competitive cricket could continue to be played there.

You are opposed to the proposal to construct padel courts. Why?

Abhijeet Deolekar: Obviously, I am fighting for and on behalf of the cricket committee as someone who has an opinion. And, you know, the debate is very, very simple. No one is against padel as a sport coming to the club. Being a Gymkhana, we welcome every sport. And we want every new sport to come to the Gymkhana. But unfortunately, our club has limitations in terms of the space available.

Some members have argued that the cricket ground is an open space that can be used for padel courts. What is your view?

Abhijeet Deolekar: Now, certain members thought that the cricket ground is an open space where the padel courts could be built. Now, our argument is very simple: once you build padel courts on the ground, the ground becomes incapable of holding any matches.

Why is preserving the ground particularly important to Khar Gymkhana?

Abhijeet Deolekar: So what are you doing? You're bringing in a new sport, and you are intruding on a space supposedly considered as an open space, but no, it's a cricket ground. Khar Gymkhana has a 92-year-old legacy. We have produced some great cricketers. It's one of the few open spaces left in suburban Mumbai, like the western suburbs. Now, if you slowly and steadily start encroaching upon the open spaces to develop anything, even if it's a sport, whatever it is...

You have also raised concerns about the loss of open spaces in Mumbai.

Abhijeet Deolekar: You're basically taking away the ground. The latest example being the Neville D'Souza Football Turf. Even the High Court has given a stay order on the plans. This is our ground. We are not against any sport, but bringing in a sport on an existing sort of ground where cricket is played, competitive cricket is played, is not acceptable for us because that will make cricket, competitive cricket, unplayable on the ground.

What would be the impact on competitive cricket if the proposal goes ahead?

Abhijeet Deolekar: Today we hold matches for Kanga League, Govardhandas Shield, and Bhagubhai Khichadia Shield, which are major tournaments. As soon as the ground is altered in its dimensions, the ground will be useless for holding these tournaments.

Has the managing committee taken a decision on the proposal?

Abhijeet Deolekar: We have put in an appeal in front of the trustees, the managing committee. And the managing committee has fortunately not yet taken any decision on anything. They're studying the proposal, they are studying the counter-arguments, and I am hoping that the managing committee will take the right decision in the interest of cricket, in the interest of every other sport, and in the interest of the members of Khar Gymkhana.

JNPA Begins Long-Haul Double-Stack DFC Operations To Improve EXIM Cargo Evacuation

You have also questioned whether the ground can legally be used for such construction. What is your understanding of its status?

Abhijeet Deolekar: If you go back in history, so Gymkhana started as a very small space, and obviously, as the members grew, more and more infrastructure was built, right? And the ground actually does not belong to the Gymkhana, the ground belongs to... I think the ground belongs to BMC or the collector. So, obviously, the ground has been demarcated as an open playground.

Would permission from the BMC be required to construct padel courts?

Abhijeet Deolekar: What do you need to do, like, for a padel court: you have to build a platform, like a plinth. In my understanding, it is not permissible as per the lease documents which are there.

The Gymkhana elections are scheduled for September. Do you think the timing of this debate is significant?

Abhijeet Deolekar: It's very unfortunate that this topic has popped up right in the face of elections. But I am hoping that the managing committee and the incoming managing committee find the right solution and make both the teams happy, the cricket team and padel team.

To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Read full story at source