New Delhi: Long queues for buses, more than two-hour travel time to the venue, cramped hotel rooms and cold food—it has not been a pleasant experience for the 30-member shooting team, which is among India’s top medal contenders. Since touching down at Nagoya airport, India’s shooting contingent had a harrowing time getting their accommodation and transport sorted.
“We told him that we are 35 people, have a lot of luggage and it will not be possible to travel by taxis. Eventually, only seven rooms were given in the main hotel, and 33 rooms in a nearby hotel (Toyoko Inn), where the rooms are quite small. Because we are not able to communicate with the bus drivers,” a member of the shooting team told HT, he went running inside and told us that we are arranging taxis for you. Because the Indian shooting team had confirmation to stay at the particular hotel, which is the biggest in the area and has a gym and other facilities, by then, the coaches were furious. Because the bigger rooms in the main hotel were given to support staff and physios who needed space for their tables etc, the shooters and coaches moved to the new hotel.
Moreover, no buses were available for the shooters, who reached Nagoya via Hong Kong after a seven-hour halt. “We had to wait for two-and-half hours to get a bus. It took us a lot of time to find someone to guide us with the transport. Everyone had already left. The security guard was there. We asked him how much time it would take. He was a little surprised and it seemed there was no information of the contingent size. Upon arrival at their designated hotel (Grand Tiara), more surprises awaited. They finally checked in at around 4am (seven hours after arriving). The coaches insisted the entire team stay together, so everyone moved to the smaller hotel. Some had to wait for nearly three hours.
In fact, they were surprised to find that there were no volunteers and the dedicated desk to facilitate transport was empty, according to Indian shooting team members. The team was told that they were booked in another hotel. Getting back to the hotel was another challenge, with another one-and-a-half-hour wait for transport, according to the shooters. “Our team quickly swung into action to secure accommodation for the athletes as quickly as possible,” Yadav said.
