The pathetic condition of facilities in some of the centres of Sports Authority of India (SAI) was revealed when a noted newspaper publication reported about players taking ice bath in a broken plastic tank. The incident happened in the SAI centre of Bengaluru where the members of junior hockey team were found using a broken plastic water tank for an ice bath. The players are attending a national camp in the centre.
An ice bath therapy is required after an athlete after undergoing an intense workout session. It helps the body recover faster. It is recommended to have an ice bath in small tubs for 10-15 minutes. But the way in which the junior players were undergoing the therapy was quite unhygienic.
According to SAI officials, the camp for the national junior hockey team began last month. When quizzed about the broken tank, they said that the same plastic tank was used by the senior team during its camps.
However, the incident was notified to the sports ministry. The ministry has ordered an enquiry and also sought a report from SAI. “After assuming charge as the sports minister during his visits to different SAI Centres in the country, Vijay Goel emphasised the need to upgrade SAI Centres to provide the best facilities to the players practicing or getting trained at SAI Centres across India,” a sports ministry official said.
