India’s top shooters and coaches preparing for the Cairo World Cup later this month are disappointed that the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has not provided them with decent accommodation in Faridabad.
Around 70 shooters and coaches have apparently been accommodated in two ‘below-par’ hotels, with NRAI officials saying that all ‘good’ hotels have been booked due to the ongoing ‘Surajkund Mela’.
“Shooters have complained about poor accommodation and food. While some spotted rats in their rooms, others were scared away by cockroaches in the dining area,” sources close to the shooters told TOI.
With night temperatures dipping to 10-13 degree celsius in Faridabad, the shooters have been forced to brave the extreme weather.
“Bottled drinking water is in short supply. The hotel provided RO water to meet the shortage. The bed is terrible and hygiene poor. It’s cold with no heater in the room,” they said, adding that outside noise too disrupted the shooters’ sleep.
Despite the hardships, the shooters are unable to air their grievances as they have signed an undertaking with NRAI, which says: “Shall not interact with media in any form without the permission of NRAI. Also, shall not post any material which is contrary to the spirit of IOC charter...(against) other office bearers of NRAI...”
SAI ACCOMMODATION FULLMeanwhile, former shooters pointed out that none of these problems would have arose had the campers been accommodated at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.
“There are enough rooms at the range to accommodate the National campers but the problem is that it’s always full with Khelo India and NCOE trainees, many of whom are permanent residents. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) should look into this and block rooms for India’s senior shooters,” they said.
NRAI sources said most of the complaints have been sorted out.
“The association (NRAI) was not able to find better hotels as most of them were booked due to the (Surajkund) mela,” they said.
“It’s not like what we had before. The room in which we are staying is not that bad. We had some problems but they have been sorted out. It’s not the best but not the worst either,” another official said.
NRAI's High Performance Director Pierre Beauchamp and secretary Rajiv Bhatia did not respond to messages and calls from TOI.
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