Patiala: Shipping containers have been set up at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) campus here, replicating the kind of accommodation facilities that Indian athletes will have during the Asian Games to be held in Japan this month. Some Indian athletes have already been given an opportunity to experience these facilities. It may be recalled that arrangements have been made in Japan for athletes from different countries to stay in cruise-ship hotels as well as steel shipping containers.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has also set up similar container rooms at its Bengaluru centre. The beds in these rooms are slightly more than six feet long, the distance between the walls is limited, and there is barely any space for anything beyond the essential items. Since athletes participating in the Asian Games in Japan will be provided with similar rooms, these sample container rooms have been created in Patiala and Bengaluru so that the athletes can get accustomed to the conditions beforehand.
Athletes travelling to Japan for the Asian Games are being invited in batches to get a taste of living in these shipping containers. They spend the night in the containers, wake up early in the morning and head to their practice venues. By the time they reach Japan, they will have already experienced most of the accommodation conditions awaiting them there while still in India.
SAI Deputy Director General Vineet Kumar told reporters in Patiala, “It was decided two years ago that athletes would be accommodated in shipping containers in Japan. The sports minister at the time showed great foresight by ensuring that Indian athletes would get an opportunity to experience such unique facilities in India before travelling to Japan, so that they would not face any shock or discomfort after reaching there.”
Two-time Asian Games champion in the men’s shot put Tajinderpal Singh Toor told PTI, “These containers may look small from the outside, but they are very beautiful and spacious from inside. All the facilities are available inside. Indian athletes will be provided with similar containers for their stay in Japan.”
Also Read – India To Face Japan In Historic One-Off T20I
-
-
-
-
