The fact that a Gurdaspur judo training centre has managed to produce 20 international players out of 38 on completely worn out and partially damaged mats has mesmerised not only domestic coaches but international ones too.When renowned Georgian coach Lasha Kizilashvili visited the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Centre last year, he was astonished to see young players training on totally unfit judo mats. “How come you have produced so many players who have participated in the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games World Police Games and the World University Games, training on archaic equipment? This phenomenon is baffling and incredible. Training on such surfaces is neither possible nor probable or viable,” said Lasha.But it is both possible and probable at this Gurdaspur centre. And viable too! Players here are guided by some divine light when they step on the damaged mats. They do get injured regularly but are back within no time.“These mats pose significant safety risks, including reduced shock absorption, leading to injury and increased slip hazards. While minor damage can be repaired with specialised tape, severely degraded mats should be replaced to prevent injuries. The problem is that 100 per cent of the centre’s mats are damaged, still the show goes on,” added another foreign coach.Lasha cited a technicality, unknown to the centre’s coaches, “If the foam feels too hard, has permanent depressions, or takes more than two to three seconds to rebound, it is worn out. All of the centre’s mats have non-repairable damage and should be immediately replaced to ensure safety. New mats typically last between five to seven years. These are 12 years old. I suggest the coaches use 55-mm thick textured vinyl mats. These are good for long-term safety and performance.”New mats were acquired by the centre more than a decade ago. Coaches recall that 20 of the players took part in domestic and international tourneys when the mats were in good condition. “Thereafter, the mats were worn out due to regular wear and tear following intense practice sessions. Still, we managed to produce 18 internationals on broken surfaces where injuries were common. To complicate matters, players could neither imbibe the correct techniques nor use proper tactics during matches because the mats did not allow them to train technically correct methods,” said Punjab Sports Department coach Ravi Kumar.The District Sports Officer (DSO) has written to the Director (Sports) to provide new equipment. “More than a hundred youngsters train here. The centre has done exceedingly well in the past and the future too is bright,” he wrote.In a case of bureaucratic red-tape, the letter did not elicit a reply. But reply or no reply, training goes on twice a day. The centre’s management once approached Punjab’s former sports minister to seek funds. His answer was, “I have never heard about this game. How is it played,” he asked.The centre immediately needs funds to buy new infrastructure. India’s most productive and efficient judo centre is indeed passing through tough times.Is anybody listening?