Andhra Pradesh - Nellore   

Poor facilities for players in 54th National Hockey Tournaments

NELLORE: Several players attending for the ongoing 54th National School Games Hockey Championship (under-17 boys and girls) in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district were suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. Four players and a coach were admitted in different hospitals in Nellore city in the last two days.

The team members expressed serious concern over the poor facilities in the schools in which the committee members provided accommodation for them. They complained of acute shortage of water, lack of doors and windows for the rooms and toilets in schools where they were lodged, water contamination and mosquito problem.

Though the tournaments committee appointed committees for smooth functioning of the matches none of the committee members visited the schools so far, they alleged.

Indumati Maliya, girls hockey coach of Chattisgarh, said, the officials provided accommodation for girls in a private school in Bhaktavatsala Nagar, but there were no doors and windows, water and even carpets or blankets for sleeping. “On Sunday, a player Gulabshah Anjum (Player No.1) in the team was admitted in Government Hospital in the city with vomiting. Another team member Savitha Kuju (No.9) fell sick on Monday. We brought cooks from our State”.

Karnataka boys and girls teams general manager Ashwat Narayana said the team coach Muni Narayana Swamy and players Sandeep (Player No.7) and Khaja (No.5) were admitted in a private hospital on Sunday when they complained of fever and vomiting. G. Niharika, a member of Karnataka girls team said about 21 teams of different states were provided accommodation in the school.

A player from Uttar Pradesh, Ashwini B.K. said no medical facilities were provided at rooms and at the grounds. The condition of the ground was also very rough with grass and sand causing injuries to the players, she said.

When contacted, District Medical and Health Officer confirmed that the players were affected with diarrhoea. Two doctors and three para-medical staff were arranged in Kanuparthipadu and AC Subba Reddy stadiums and are providing treatment to the players.

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