AFI claims it's simply a case of communication gap

A day after P T Usha broke down and claimed humiliation on being denied proper accommodation in Bhopal, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) washed its hand off the incident and termed it a "communication gap" between the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the sprint queen.

AFI Secretary-General Lalit Bhanot said the incident was "regrettable" and Usha is currently staying in a hotel. The celebrated sprinter is in Bhopal to attend the 49th National Open Athletics meet with her team.

"It was nobody's fault. There was a communication gap, which was rectified. SAI was not aware of Usha's programme and they were neither informed by the local organisers who had arranged for her trip," said Bhanot.

"I spoke to her personally today and she has been given a good accommodation and is staying there. She has not been ill-treated," added Bhanot, who is also the Secretary of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

Usha is the coach of an athletics team participating at the Championship. She had asked for a better accommodation from the tournament organisers, which the SAI officials reportedly denied. She subsequently burst into tears in front of reporters.

"I have no clue where would I go now. I was invited for the event but then I am not being provided with a room," she said on Monday. Clarifying the incident, Bhanot said, "she had booked her own accommodation eight days ago and the tournament organizers thought that she will be staying on her own, that's why nobody was at fault."

"It was raining heavily on Monday, and when the organizers came to know that she has arrived along with her team, they went to pick her up and it was just 20 minutes late. Come on, you have to wait for longer hours at the airport sometimes and she waited for just 20 minutes," he said.

"She said she wants to stay close to the athletics, so she was taken to SAI hostel where she didn't find the accommodation good and then she was shifted to a hotel. There was no delay in providing her the hotel room.

"You are organising such a big event with so many teams participating in it. Sometimes things get delayed, but now everything is OK and perfectly fine," said Bhanot.

Bhanot said he will make sure that such an incident is never repeated in the future and an athlete like Usha does not have to cry again.

"If athletes are coming for any event, AFI should also be informed about their programme in advance so that proper arrangements can be made for them and things should be monitored from the headquarters also," he said.