Off-field controversies continue to hamper India’s Olympic preparations in Rio. A day after Indian tennis sensation leander Paes was disappointed for not being allotted a room in Rio, the men’s hockey team reportedly decided to skip the opening ceremony for want of official kit. Incidently, India’s hockey chief coach Roelant Oltmans had complained about shortage of chairs and television sets a few days ago. It is reported that some of their jerseys were not suitable for the players to wear.
“The kit that was handed to the players is not fit for most of them. The players didn’t have time to check the fittings since they reached Rio quite late and were given the kit on the day they started their trip,” a source told PTI.
However, Hockey India president Narinder Batra said the reason behind skipping the opening ceremony is to gave the players rest as the men’s hockey team has a match on the same day. “We have a match tomorrow, so we don’t want to drain the players since the ceremony will go on for long,” said Batra.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Friday said that the Hockey India was in the process of sending better kits to the team.
“There is some talk about the jersey (of our hockey team). When our hockey team left from here, we had given them a kit. Now we are trying to send a better kit. The Hockey Federation is involved in this,” Goel said.
However, the women’s team will participate in the ceremony.
Earlier, hockey coach Oltmans said there were no proper tables and chairs in the apartments for six people and were provided with only two chairs.
However, Goel said the lack of furniture’s problem has also been resolved.
“There have also been some reports that there is no furniture or TV sets in the rooms where our hockey team is staying. let me clarify, that the facility arrangement and infrastructure is responsibility of the Rio Olympic Organising Committee. When it came to our notice, we told our officials there to address and resolve these problems. Rs 1 crore has been transferred to Indian Embassy in Brazil for buying any additional items for the Indian contingent,” said Goel.
Meanwhile, Indian tennis sensation leander Paes was reportedly not allotted with a room when he reached Rio on Thursday evening, leaving the tennis star extremely disappointed ahead of his first doubles match with Rohan Bopanna on Saturday.