Paris-Bound Shooters Face Accommodation Chaos in Bhopal

Paris-Bound Shooters Face Accommodation Chaos in Bhopal

New Delhi: The Paris Olympics-bound Indian rifle shooters currently training in Bhopal faced significant inconvenience on Tuesday due to an administrative blunder related to their accommodation. Without prior notice, the shooters were abruptly asked to shift hotels with their luggage, given a mere 20 minutes to pack.

The situation worsened when the shooters were informed that they would have to return to the same hotel on Wednesday morning. Sources close to the team revealed that the shooters were deeply upset and had complained to top National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) officials about the lack of proper organization, especially considering the importance of the national camp.

The pre-Olympics camp in Bhopal commenced on July 7 and is scheduled to conclude on July 13. The team is set to depart for France on July 14. "There has been a lot of confusion regarding their accommodation from the very beginning. Today, when they returned from training around 3 pm, the shooters and support staff were told to immediately vacate and move to another hotel," said an individual familiar with the situation.

"Everyone was caught off guard. They had to rush and pack a lot of things. It was their time for rest, but that was lost in packing and shifting. Some of them skipped the evening gym session, while others just went through the motions. They will have to travel back to the same hotel tomorrow morning, which means another day of training will be affected," the source added.

Another source pointed out that while there may have been a shortage of hotel accommodation due to the wedding season, the NRAI could have made better arrangements. A Sports Authority of India (SAI) facility is located near the shooting range. NRAI officials were unavailable for comment.

"It is shocking how the NRAI administration functions. Such situations take a mental toll on the shooters. They could have shifted the camp to another venue if rooms were not available," said a former shooter, requesting anonymity.

A record number of 21 Indian shooters, including eight in rifle, have qualified for the Paris Olympics. The chaotic accommodation situation has raised concerns about the NRAI's ability to provide a conducive environment for the athletes' preparation.

Tags: #ParisOlympics, #RifleShooting, #AccommodationChaos, #NRAI, #Bhopal