In Pictures: Delhi's JLN Stadium In Mess After Diljit Dosanjh's Concert, Pricey Sports Gear Damaged

A two-day concert by popular singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium drew widespread criticism after the venue was left littered and damaged. The event, named Dil-Luminati, attracted around 40,000 fans each night, leaving behind garbage, alcohol containers, and broken athletic equipment. This has left many athletes who train at the stadium frustrated, as they witnessed their training ground in disarray.

Beant Singh, a Delhi-based middle-distance runner and former National Open Championships medalist, shared images and videos of the mess, highlighting the aftermath on Instagram. "This is where athletes train, but here people had alcohol, danced, and partied. The stadium will now stay closed for 10 days, and equipment like hurdles has been broken and thrown around," he wrote. In a disheartened tone, Singh added, "This is the situation of sport, sportspersons, and stadiums in India. …medals do not come in the Olympics because there is no respect and support for sportspersons in this country."

The stadium's owner, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), responded by promising a clean-up within 24 hours. A top SAI official shared, “Over 70,000 people attended across two days, and we’re working to restore the stadium to its original condition. The clean-up will be complete by the 29th.” SAI’s contract with the concert organizers mandates that the venue be returned in the same condition it was handed over.

For Singh and other athletes, the situation remains painful. “The equipment damage is costly for young athletes who pooled money to buy hurdles and other tools for practice,” he noted, adding that their hurdles, costing around Rs 3,000-4,000 each, were damaged beyond use. Boxes holding starting blocks, shot puts, discs, and other equipment were found broken.

A coach from Delhi reported that some athletes have formally approached SAI for compensation. “These athletes bought hurdles and other necessary equipment themselves. Now, many items are ruined,” said the coach, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The athletes, unable to train on the stadium track due to ongoing repairs, have been redirected to an outdoor training area, but its condition is subpar. This interruption, the coach explained, is affecting preparations for the upcoming National Junior Championships and national school competitions.

Additionally, the stadium is currently hosting Indian Super League (ISL) football matches, serving as Punjab FC’s home ground, with a game scheduled against Chennaiyin FC on Thursday. This dual-use of the stadium has only added to the tension among athletes, who are anxious about the impact of non-sporting events on their training facilities.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, originally constructed for the athletics events of the 1982 Asian Games and renovated for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is no stranger to high-profile concerts. International stars like Bryan Adams and Ricky Martin have performed here in the past, but repeated episodes of littering and damage continue to plague the venue. "Athletes who train here have voiced their disappointment in the past too, but nothing seems to change," remarked a Delhi-based track and field athlete anonymously.

While no national camps are currently being hosted at the stadium, it remains part of SAI’s “Come and Play” initiative, allowing free access to young athletes. With training disrupted, many hope this incident will prompt lasting change, reinforcing the venue’s primary purpose as a sporting ground.