Patiala: The towering Tajinder Pal Singh Toor was all smiles after spending a night in the specially designed shipping container which has been transformed into a prototype of the unique accommodation awaiting athletes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, beginning September 19.
“There was some awkwardness initially, but I got used to it and it’s comfortable now. I am able to adjust in the bed. “The best part is we now know what to expect there and can accordingly manage our luggage too. The space could be a constraint. “This is my first Asian Games and I was hoping for a proper Games Village. Throwers take up more space. So initially it was a bit difficult to adjust, but by the second day the feeling was much better. I was able to sleep well. Athletes always adapt. “Keeping this in mind, this was the vision of our Sports Minister (Mansukh Mandaviya) to prepare these smart containers here for the athletes’ stay.
Because you won’t feel claustrophobic when suddenly we get into small size rooms there,” said Seema who won bronze at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, this acclimatization process will help us.
It’s amazing the way SAI has used it to develop this container and give us the experience we will have in Japan,” Toor told HT. I was thinking of taking two bags, but now I will go with one,” said the two-time defending champion. Discus thrower Seema Kaliramna has spent two nights in the container, and said the experience will be very different from Glasgow where they stayed in hotels. “Athletes can acclimatise themselves before they go to Japan so that they don’t get any kind of claustrophobia and are mentally prepared to stay in this kind of accommodation,” said Vineet Kumar. We have used a replica of what they will get there,” Kumar said.
“We want to prepare them for everything so that they can compete without any kind of pressure. They should get comfortable in this accommodation and not get a shock, which could have an effect on their training. The psychology of a player is important in competitions. Any kind of problem, be it logistical or otherwise, can sometimes impact their mental state and performance.
Kumar said fencers, boxers and weightlifters training at the Patiala camp had already spent nights at the facility.
