The centre having a built-up area of 30,000 square feet has three courts for singles and one for doubles.

A Squash Centre, the first of its kind in the State and constructed as part of the 35th National Games to be held from January 31 to February 14, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Wednesday.

The centre having a built-up area of 30,000 square feet has three courts for singles and one for doubles, though competitions will be held only in singles at the games. Constructed at a cost of Rs.5 crore, the centre has a seating capacity of 500, besides other facilities required to host an event as big as the National Games. The Chief Minister said the centre was a model of the State’s quest to establish suitable infrastructure for sporting activities.

“The people of the State are awaiting the start of the National Games with huge expectations. I am sure that Kerala sport will achieve greater glory in the future if the infrastructure now being readied for the games was put to good use,” the Chief Minister said.

Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who presided over the ceremony, said Kerala was fully geared up to conduct the games flawlessly.

The Minister said that the promotional event ‘Run, Kerala Run’ to be led by Sachin Tendulkar and expected to be participated by more than a crore people would give the preparations a further push.

Principal Coordinator and Chief Commissioner of the National Games Secretariat Jacob Punnoose and Kerala State Sports Council president Padmini Thomas spoke.