Accommodation Row at 69th School Games Basketball Nationals in Barmer Draws Criticism

During the 69th National School Games basketball tournament, a number of Under 19 players and coaches have alleged that the organizers forced them to sleep on floors and share insufficient toilet facilities, exposing athletes to sub-standard accommodation and welfare risks.

The festival of the games, masterminded by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and carried out by the Directorate of Secondary Education Rajasthan, took place at PM SHREE MGGS School, Barmer from 2nd to 6th January 2026.

The attendees have claimed that the accommodation provided to them was not in line with the standards set by the official regulations. The event brochure had assured the provision of a hotel or hostel stay with three athletes sharing a bedroom, two officials sharing another bedroom, and a common mess facility with a daily cost of 350.

Nonetheless, some coaches complained that the players' teams were instead housed in very crowded spaces such as the Aashirwad Bhawan, a place in the vicinity of the venue. Players reportedly were made to sleep on the floor of untidy rooms and share one single toilet among several participants, thus giving rise to concerns about the upkeep of hygiene and personal safety.

"National, level players for instance need the right amount of rest and recovery time. Sleeping on the floor and living in an environment with poor sanitation can negatively impact both health and performance, " remarked one of the coaches, who was with a team and asked to be unnamed.

Athletes also cited their grievances about dirty surroundings and the presence of rodents, among other issues, which further added to their discomfort during the competition.

In fact, this incident has stirred the memories of similar complaints made during the previous editions of the national school games held in Ludhiana and Ranchi, where the teams had once again reported the lack of sanitation and improper accommodation.

The leaders of School Games Federation of India have so far not released a formal statement in rebuttal to the accusations. There have been calls by sport administrators, coaches & others to reevaluate the existing conditions, especially in terms of infrastructure and responsibility, that are at the disposal of young athletes during national school tournaments.