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Members of the Indian shooting contingent were recently reported to accompanying officials for breaking code of conduct during their stay at a hotel during the 3rd World Junior Championship in Changwon. The incidents were committed by only a small group out of the 90-strong contingent, and issues like damage to hotel equipment were cited to the accompanying officials. The Indian official stated that they have not been able to verify all the incidents reported to them by the hotel.
The hotel reported not only that some equipment had been damaged, but that a female shooter was found in a male marksman’s room. The Indian traveling official stated that this incident has not been verified as of yet but that the hotel has been reimbursed for damages to equipment. It was also reiterated that none of the national squad members were involved in any of the activities reported by the hotel. India has sent the largest contingent of all countries to the World Junior Championship.
The official as quoted by the PTI stated, “We haven’t been able to independently verify the incident as no one has seen them entering or leaving the room. However, the hotel had reported a few instances of damage to some equipment in the rooms, for which they have been compensated.”
Individuals involved were participating in the MQS category
The official also stated that none of the people reported were traveling at the government’s expense and that all of the marksmen reported were traveling on a ‘non-cost-to-government’ basis and paid for their own expenses. Marksmen who go on such a basis participate in the MQS category, which stands for minimum qualification score. The MQS is the minimum score that has to be achieved in order to qualify for higher level events and competitions in shooting and is declared by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
The official stated that the contingent had been made aware of the dos-and-don'ts very well prior to leaving the country. He also reiterated that there was a daily briefing and that all members of the contingent, including the coaching staff, would be called in and questioned soon.
The official stated, “What we found during questioning was that a female shooter had used the toilet in a male shooter’s room. There had been incidents where players prepared noodles in electric kettles and damaged them. We have paid the hotel for the damaged equipment.”
