Star players complain of chaos during Asian Games torch relay
The Asian Games torch was lit by Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra and secretary general Rajiv Mehta here on Sunday morning at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. The stadium had hosted the inaugural edition of the multidiscipline sports event in 1951.
After the ceremonial lighting, Olympic bronze-medallist boxer MC Marykom started the torch relay. Thirty prominent Indian athletes, including pistol shooter Jitu Rai and skipper of men’s hockey PR Sreejesh, participated in the relay.
However, there was a minor hiccup as elite athletes — Sreejesh, Sardar Singh, Rai and Sharath Kamal were forced to hitch a ride on the media bus from the stadium to India Gate as there was confusion over their transport. When asked about the problem, a star player agreed the
NEW DELHI:
event was a bit chaotic.
The torch was later handed to the Asian Games Organising Committee delegate headed by Indonesian Olympic Committee president Erick Thohir, who is also the chairman of the Organising Committee.
The flame is expected to travel across 54 cities in Indonesia before the opening ceremony on August 18.
NO CHANGE IN GAMES CONTINGENT
Batra, meanwhile, said there will be no change in the composition of the Indian contingent bound for Asian Games. “Since the deadline of sending entry by name is over, we are not adding names to the list,” he said.