Indian Hockey Stars Forced to Assemble Chairs in Olympics Village

Hockey India President: Have the athletes gone there to assemble tables or win medals?

Members of the Indian hockey team assemble the tables bought by then for their apartments. (Photo: Facebook)

With the Rio Olympics’ Organising Committee expressing its inability to provide additional chairs and tables and the Indian contingent’s Chef de Mission Rakesh Gupta too failing to deliver, the members of the Indian hockey team were forced to go out of the village and buy their own chairs and tables to use in the apartments.

Hockey India’s President Narendra Batra took to social media to express his disappointment at the Chef de Mission’s constant refusal to help the team.

While Chef de Mission slept and only appeared for photo opportunity, Hockey India High Performance Director and Hockey Athletes went to the market and purchased 28 chairs and 5 tables. Shame on you Chef de Mission of India...

Narendra Batra, President-Hockey India

Members of the team had to sit on bean bags with no chairs available. (Photo: Narendra Batra)

Resorting to desperate measures, members of the team and coach Oltmans himself went to the market nearby and bought the required furniture for the rooms.

Indian Men Hockey Team athletes assembling 5 Tables and 28 Chairs purchased by them (Not IOA) on 2nd August, 2016 in Rio, Shame on You Chef de Mission and other IOA staff on Paid Holiday in Rio. Have the Athletes gone there to assemble tables or win Medals...

Narendra Batra, President-Hockey India