Transportation Issues Reported by LNIPE Women’s Basketball Team
The women’s basketball team from the Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) in Gwalior has expressed dissatisfaction regarding transportation arrangements for the Khelo India University Games 2025. They reported that inadequate communication led them to organize their own travel before an important match.
Details of the Transport Lapse
Deepshika, the team’s physiotherapist, explained that the vehicle assigned to them failed to arrive on time. “Our designated transport was supposed to be at the hotel by 10 AM, but it left 10 minutes early without notifying us. We only learned this after contacting the driver,” she stated. Consequently, the team had to hire auto-rickshaws as their match was imminent. They even video-called the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to verify their transportation status.
Impact on Team Morale
Coach Dilip shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that such oversights can disrupt the players’ focus. “These issues can be detrimental… Mistakes like this shouldn’t occur, especially with our match scheduled for 11:30 AM. It can mentally unsettle the team,” he remarked.
Official Response from Rajasthan Minister
In response to the team’s complaints, Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore assured that the event is being managed to international standards and that transportation is functioning as planned. He stated, “We are hosting an event of international caliber in Rajasthan. I have already mentioned that vehicles are available for each team, but they operate on a set schedule. For those who wish to leave early, we have arranged taxis. There is no issue with players opting for taxi travel,” he clarified.
