SAI creates ‘Little Japan’ in India: Athletes get a taste of Asian Games life in containers | More sports news
BENGALURU: Shipping containers with cherry blossom-painted exteriors and traditional Japanese lanterns hanging on the sides have been converted into two-bedroom accommodation. Inside there are modern amenities and an LED screen displaying information about Asian Games and Japanese books such as Ikigai and Kaizen. The menu features ramen, a variety of sushi, tempura, and yakitori.This could easily be Japan. Not so, yet.It is the Southern Center of Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Bengaluru.To help athletes heading to the Asian Games acclimate to the culture, living conditions and food they will encounter in Japan, SAI has created a slice of the country at its southern hub and facility in Patiala. Athletes from various disciplines have already used these facilities, and it is expected that athletes participating in team sports will be accommodated in the containers.The containers, built at a cost of around Rs 20 lakh, resulted from an idea mooted earlier this year.“We had planned to do this in January, but due to various factors, we could not get them ready. The containers have been operational for a week and the volleyball team was one of the first to test it,” SAI South Regional Director Vishnu Sudhakaran told TOI.Each container can accommodate four athletes and was completed in 45 days. Besides overnight stays, the facility was also used during the day by track and field athletes and the women’s hockey team.This is not a temporary arrangement. The structure is designed for permanent use.“Our athletes spend a lot of time away from their homes, and are often visited by more than two family members for short periods. We will use this facility as temporary accommodation for visiting families of the athletes,” Sudhakaran said.
Taste of Japan
The effort to recreate a Japanese experience extended to the cafeteria.While continental cuisine was introduced last year to help athletes traveling to Europe acclimate to the cuisine, Japanese dishes have been gradually added to the menu from January this year.The chefs at SAI have undergone specialized training in Japanese cuisine under the supervision of Chef Vaibhav Soni of Snowy Foods.“First, the athletes and chefs were introduced to Japanese culture, such as what and why they eat a certain type of food, the ingredients they use and what they prefer during breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Soni explained.“The chefs were then briefed on the theoretical process followed by practical knowledge of it. They were then trained to prepare different types of ramen, sushi, robatayaki, tempura, and others,” he added.
Sony makes regular visits to the center to oversee the process and ensure that the kitchen is set up as intended.For Indian women’s hockey team forward Larimsiamy, the experience offered the athletes more than just a taste of Japan. “Some of us are used to eating sushi, but for many athletes it was their first taste of Japanese food. Since we have been experiencing this cuisine for a while, we know what ingredients go into a particular dish and what to expect in our dish. The containers have given us an experience of what to expect in terms of accommodation,” the young man said.The idea, according to Sudhakaran, is simple: to make Japan feel less foreign before the athletes get there.
