Junior girls put through the wringer

Manuja Veerappa

Unhygienic conditions, 18 girls cooped up in a room, insufficient water and to top it, spiders crawling around. Welcome to the 2nd Hockey India Junior women’s National Championship.

The event which got underway in Sonepat, Haryana on Monday was meant to be a dream debut for many young girls, but it has turned into an absolute nightmare.

The Moti Lal Nehru School of Sports’ hostel where the teams have been provided accommodation is in pitiable condition. Every team has been given just one large room with three bathrooms at the end of the corridor to be shared by an average of 40 girls.

Such has been the conditions that many of the youngsters who reached the hostel on Tuesday were appalled by the conditions and refrained from even having a bath. The Karnataka team, which recorded a thumping 18-0 win over Gujarat on Thursday, unable to stay in these conditions, have checked into a hotel at their own expense.

Describing the harrowing experience, a Karnataka player said, “This was supposed to be my dream debut for the state at the Nationals, but going by the facilities this is surely my last tournament. We are not asking for hotel facilities, but the least we expected was basic hygienic lodging.

“We were willing to adjust with three of us sharing a mattress and sleeping on the floor. But to use the bathrooms with cobwebs all over and spiders crawling around was disgusting. It seemed like the bathrooms have not been cleaned for days and the stench is unbearable.”

Another player from Punjab added, “There are no lights in the bathroom and many of us haven’t had a bath in two days because the bathrooms have no latches or the doors are half broken. We can’t help but wonder if people who have provided us these facilities would be willing to let their daughters stay here.”

Bad enough the sport has seen a downswing among girls in recent times and when such incidents come to light it further discourages parents.

Vikas Goyal, father of one of the Karnataka team members said, “I was shocked to hear about the conditions. I’ve loved the sport, but I love my daughter more. I don’t think I want her to play hockey in these conditions. I have sent my staff over and moved the team to a hotel. This is the least I could do to help the girls.”

The pathetic conditions do not come as shock, simply because it’s been the norm for decades now. But with Hockey India doling out money for the conduct of tournaments and a woman in Mariamma Koshy as the president, one would have expected the facilities to be decently basic.

One parent told to his daughter, “It’s your fault. You’ve chosen the wrong sport.”

But what they should realise is it’s not the sport which is at fault, but the people who run it.

Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra was unavailable for comments.

Credit: Deccan Chronicle