What’s an athlete without his kit and apparel? Just two day before curtains go up on the Commonwealth Games, sportspersons are grappling with the problem of oversize, undersize and, in some cases, absolutely no kits.
The 27-member para-athletic contingent, which checked into the Village on Saturday, is yet to get its training kit, while the weightlifting squad received a consignment of undersized kits. There is a distinct possibility the lifters might have to wear their old costumes in competition.
The condition of the athletes and swimmers is worse --- they haven’t even got their kits. The women’s hockey team got its training kit on Friday evening, while the shooting squad was told to collect it early on Saturday.
“We haven’t got our training kits. They were supposed to be handed over to us the day we checked into the Village,” said Arjuna awardee par-athlete Farman Basha.
“They have given kits to quite a few teams, but I don’t know why they are discriminating against us. We have even approached our manager, but he too is clueless,” he added.
Not only are the costumes undersized or oversized, the ceremonial blazers too are undersized. The tracksuits provided to the lifters too are not of proper size. “This shows their seriousness about the Commonwealth Games. The Organising Committee has spent a lot of money on kits, but it’s of no use to us. Now, we all will be competing in the Games with different costumes,” said a lifter.
{{/usCountry}}Not only are the costumes undersized or oversized, the ceremonial blazers too are undersized. The tracksuits provided to the lifters too are not of proper size. “This shows their seriousness about the Commonwealth Games. The Organising Committee has spent a lot of money on kits, but it’s of no use to us. Now, we all will be competing in the Games with different costumes,” said a lifter.
{{/usCountry}}The chaos happened because the OC placed the order very late. “It’s a mistake on our part that we failed to put the order on time. We are getting some complaints of oversize and undersize kits but we are replacing them,” said a senior OC official. “By tomorrow all the players will get their kits,” he added.