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Hockey India chief slams IOA on 'unfurnished apartments' in Rio

Last updated on: August 02, 2016 15:03 IST

'Have you all and the IOA staff who have gone to Rio, are on some kind of a paid holiday?'

IMAGE: Indian hockey players in their apartment in the Games Village in Rio de Janeiro. Photograph: Facebook

Hockey India President Narinder Batra launched a scathing attack at India's Chef de Mission Rajeev Mehta and the other members of Indian Olympics Association, who are in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games.

In response to a letter sent by the hockey team's chief coach, Roelant Oltmans, to IOA complaining about the lack of basic facilities in the Games Village, Batra shared a picture in which players are living in 'unfurnished' apartments.

Batra shared the image above on social media targeting Mehta and the IOA.

"You do not believe in acknowledging or replying to mails from Hockey India," he posted on Facebook.

In the picture, the players are seen lying on bean bags and the apartment is empty, without even basic furniture.

"Dear Mr President IOA and Chef De Mission Indian contingent… have you all and IOA Staff who have gone to Rio, are on some kind of a Paid Holiday? (sic)," Batra wrote in his post.

He also mentioned part of Oltmans's letter (on Monday) which said that "hanging in these bean-seats will lead to injuries in the long-term. 

"Apart from 2 chairs and the 4 bean-seaters, there is nothing in the living room, nothing to hang clothes also.(sic)."

The letter was sent by Oltmans to Batra and the IOA members in Rio.

Through his post Batra requested Mehta and the IOA to sort out the problems India's men's and women's hockey teams are facing so that they can deliver a medal in Rio.

Aruneel Sadadekar