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| December 02, 2006 | Saturday | Ziqa'ad 10, 1427 |
India’s shooters protest against ‘rude’ Games officials
DOHA, Dec 1: India's top shooters have lodged a protest with Asian Games organisers over what they said was “rude and unhelpful” behaviour of officials at the Lusail ranges here.
“Some of the officials have been very rude and unhelpful at our training sessions,” a team spokesman told Indian reporters. “We have brought it to the notice of the organisers.”Double Trap specialist Rajyavardhan Rathore, an Indian army colonel who won the country's lone medal at the Athens Olympics, said his stay in Doha so far had been uninspiring.
“Such Games are meant to be enjoyed but this is no fun at all,” the 36-year-old said. “We are here to perform and get away as soon as we can.
“Sad but true, these are not good Games at all.”Rathore, a medal hopeful here after winning the bronze at the World Cup finals in Spain and a gold at the Asian championships in Singapore, said the lack of local Qatari involvement has ruined the build-up to the Games.
“The spirit of international events like these are made by the volunteers and the audience, but this is not the case here,” he said.
“These Asian Games have been got together by the financial might of Qatar.
Locals are not really involved in the running of the Games.
“The volunteers here are all paid workers from other countries. Frankly, their attitude is not very cheerful.”Rathore, however, stressed that the lacklustre atmosphere at the Games will not stop him or his compatriots from gunning for gold.
“We are all very keen to win. The competition will be tough but we are ready for the challenge,” he said.
India, who won 16 shooting gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March, managed just two silvers at the previous Asiad in Busan, South Korea four years ago
China have been so dominant at the Asian level that rivals usually aim to prevent a clean sweep, and it is unlikely to be any different in the Qatari capital.—AFP
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