Bangalore: Blame it on the junior weightlifting squad. Blame it also on the insistence of Sports Authority of India, Delhi. SAI, South Centre found itself saddled with too many inmates at the hostel once the women’s hockey camp for the Commonwealth Games was shifted to Bangalore. The result: hockey players found themselves packed like sardines in the rooms.

The fitness camp, originally scheduled from July 18 in Gandhinagar, was shifted to Bangalore apparently because the South Centre had better sports medicine backup. The centre was not informed in advance and hence no alternate arrangement could be made, officials said.

South Centre director Shyam Sundar admitted he could do little as the camp had been thrust on them.

“All along we have been told that Bangalore will be the training centre for men’s hockey for the Commonwealth Games. So what do we do when a hockey camp, consisting of 30 players, is shifted to Bangalore? We are helpless. We have limited number of rooms at the women’s hostel. The construction of the new hostel is complete but I don’t think we can shift the girls immediately because furnishing has to be done.’’

Sundar said the problems would continue until the junior weightlifting team moved to other SAI centres. “Their camp was scheduled either in Patiala or Pune. Later, it was decided that it would be in Bangalore,’’ Sundar said.

At the same time, the SAI official claimed things weren’t as bad as it has been projected. “The report talked about unclean toilets and players falling ill. That is not true.’’

The SAI sports medicine centre corroborated Sundar’s statement saying only one player was diagnosed with respiratory infection. “The girl came to Bangalore with the infection. We haven’t had anybody else reporting sick,’’ sources at the centre said.

Meanwhile, coach Vasu Thapliyal, who is attached to the women’s team, said 23 girls from a shortlist of 30 have reported for the camp.