From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Apr 17: The sportsmen representing Goa in Chhatisgarh for under-16 national games claimed to have gone through an `ordeal’ on their way in the train due to lack of seat reservation by Goa authorities.
Around 72 students who will be playing athletics, basketball, hockey and badminton in Chhatisgarh beginning from tomorrow for school games, had to travel standing from Mumbai to Chhatisgarh after spending a night on the platform.
The players who boarded Mandovi Express train on April 16 from Margao (Goa) had comfortable journey till Mumbai before they got into Geetanjali Express on April 17.
“We are so many of us but hardly few tickets were confirmed. We had to travel standing. Some of us are sitting on the luggage and even sharing the seats with fellow passengers,” said Joshua George, a basketball player.
The students are expected to reach Chhatisgarh tonight at 10 p.m. and play for the events tomorrow.
The students claim that only 6 out of 72 players had their tickets confirmed on Geetanjali Express. “These tickets from booked from tatkal quota. We initially thought that tickets were confirmed,” a sports authority of Goa (SAG) coach, who is accompanying the team, told over phone.
He said that the players are shuttling between three bogies S-9, S-10 and S-11 in absence of confirmed seats.
The students said that the train is chock-a-block with passengers due to holiday season.
SAG executive Director V M Prabhudesai said that the tickets were booked by Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), a central government organization, which is looking after logistic of their travel.
“Since getting so many tickets was an issue, we had booked tickets from Chief Minister’s and Member of Parliament’s quota,” he said adding that the students were exaggerating the situation.
“We had booked 45 berths for 72 students. We had asked them to adjust amongst themselves,” he said.
Prabhudesai said that SAG will initiate inquiry into whether students really suffered in their journey.
Also see:
Sonu Sinha Case Reveals Tragedy of Indian Sports