B'desh archers suffer room shortage and poor facilities in Japan

Bangladeshi archers participating in the ongoing Asian Games in Japan faced severe accommodation difficulties on Tuesday following administrative missteps by event organizers.

The 16-member archery contingent endured a 10-hour wait at the welcome center, only to be provided four rooms for 14 athletes and coaches instead of the allocated seven, according to Bangladesh Archery Federation General Secretary Tanveer Raihan. He added that players missed proper meals and sleep due to waterlogging issues in the bathrooms and inadequate rooming.

Chef de Mission Major Imroz Ahmed stated that despite hours of negotiation with the accommodation committee, two officials had to be relocated to a separate hotel. To ease the crisis, the Bangladesh gymnastics team manager and coach surrendered their rooms to the archery coach and spent the night aboard a cruise ship.

Although 31 rooms on the cruise ship were assigned to accommodate 79 members across seven disciplines, organizers failed to hand over the units properly prior to the team's arrival. Despite the ongoing housing crisis and lack of sleep, the Bangladesh archery team completed their scheduled morning practice session on Wednesday.

-SA