Khelo India Games: LNIPE women’s team forced to take autos to match

Team Alleges Transport Lapses

The Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) Gwalior women’s basketball team has raised concerns over transportation arrangements at the Khelo India University Games 2025, claiming that a lack of timely communication forced them to arrange their own travel ahead of a scheduled match. A player, Ankita told ANI, “… We had a match at 11:30 AM, and we were waiting for the bus till 11 AM, but it did not arrive. Then we booked an auto… We got a little late before the match.”

Team coach Dilip echoed the concerns, saying such lapses affect the players’ mindset. “There are problems… Such mistakes should not happen because our team’s match was at 11:30 AM. The team gets mentally disturbed because of this,” he said.

Team physiotherapist Deepshikha said the situation unfolded when the transport allotted to them did not arrive as expected. “Today our allotted vehicle was due at 10 AM, but it had already left the hotel 10 minutes earlier, and we had no information about it. We only found out when we called the driver,” she said. “Then we had to book the autos because our match was about to start… We even made a video call to the LOC to confirm that we are in autos,” she added.

Minister Responds to Allegations

Responding to the issue, Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said the event is being conducted at international standards and clarified that transportation is operating as per schedule. “A program of an international standard is being held in Rajasthan. I already briefed that there are cars and buses for every team, but they only run on schedule. If some players want to return early, we have arranged for taxis for them. There is nothing wrong with someone travelling in a taxi,” he said. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)