Tennis exposes poor management

Third seed Anwar Hossain makes a return during the opening day's match of the tennis event of the 8th Bangladesh Games at the National Tennis Complex in Ramna yesterday. PHPTO: STAR

The tennis event of the 8th Bangladesh Games got underway yesterday at the National Tennis Complex in Ramna, five days before the official inauguration, but it was marked with poor management as there was no food for the players, no accommodation facilities for those from outside Dhaka  and poor condition of the courts.
The players from outside Dhaka were seen taking rest haphazardly at the Ramna Tennis Complex as no accommodation was arranged for them till afternoon. They were not even served with any food. All the seven courts were covered with dusts as no preparation had been taken for the Games. Worst of all, there was no federation official present there to witness these or to take action.
Shibu Lal and Hira Lal bothers, the champion and the runner-up respectively of the previous edition which was held back in 2002, are not available this time as both of them have migrated to the United State to earn their living. However, their successor and younger brother Dipu Lal, who is participating this time, experienced the mismanagement firsthand and slammed the organisers for that.
“It takes 200 taka to come here from Gulshan and another 200 for return, but we are not given a single penny because we live in Dhaka. The organisers aren't even providing us any food. Why should we then participate in the Games?” asked the fourth-seed, who initially wanted to skip the Games but came to play in request of second-seed Alamgir Hossain.
“Even Ramna Park is cleaner than our tennis courts. The courts are all covered with dust and slippery and any accident can happen any time, but no one takes any action,” said Alamgir.
Ajit, a player of Rajshahi Division, informed that they might have to stay at the dormitory of National Sports Council even though the players are supposed to stay at hotels.
Some 105 players from 28 affiliated clubs and organisations had initially sent in their entries but 69 players from 20 clubs signed in for the singles event yesterday with Amol Roy, Alamgir Hossain and Anwar Hossain being considered the top three seeded players. The women's events however will take place after the inauguration ceremony.
The events of badminton, hockey, taekwondo and squash will also begin before the Games officially start on April 20. A total of 356 events from 31 disciplines will be held in the Games.