Asian Games: Sushi, silence on menu as Indian athletes are trained in ‘Japanese ways’

NEW DELHI: With the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya around eight months away, Indian sports administrators are making Indian athletes embrace Japanese culture, cuisine and etiquette to respect local customs. This includes learning to use chopsticks, keeping silent when travelling in the athletes’ bus and greeting everyone with the traditional ‘Eshaku’ bow during the Sept 19-Oct 4 Games.

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SAI has even introduced vegetarian sushi and onigiri (rice balls with fillings) at the cafeteria of national centres of excellence (NCoE), NIS Patiala and the Regional Centre in Bengaluru, TOI has learnt, as an initial move in this outreach to respect local Japanese customs.




At the third review meeting for the Asian Games, held in the Capital on Monday, one of the items on the agenda dwelt on ‘acclimatisation of athletes to food habits and cultural etiquette’ while workshops and sessions have been conducted at Sports Authority of India (SAI)-run centres to make athletes aware about diverse food cultures and etiquette involving basic decency .

The new food menu at the SAI centres focuses on popular Japanese dishes, with chefs told to prepare and serve them to athletes in addition to regular nutrition-rich diets.

Yet, new habits are hard to acquire. It is learnt that athletes are turning up their noses to the new cuisine, with the initial feedback not being too encouraging. These reservations were communicated during Monday’s review meeting as well.

With cuisines having gone global at multi-event Games over the years, Asian meals are generally served to athletes but specific Indian meals are not readily available.

“At the Hangzhou Asiad in 2023, the athletes’ village or competition venues didn’t have Indian breads and lentil wasn’t to their liking,” a source said.

“You will find an Asian meal, not Indian food. In that context, it’s important for athletes to develop a taste for a couple of local dishes. The authorities always try their best to have Indian food included in the menu at the Games but there are only a limited number of items,” sources said.


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