New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) Racing against time to qualifyfor next month's Winter Olympics, alpine skier Himanshu Thakuris stranded at the Frankfurt airport and is awaiting Iranianvisa clearance for a qualifying event in Darbandsar.
Himanshu, who finished 72nd in the giant slalom at theSochi Winter Olympics four years ago, needs a score of 140points or below in five races to qualify for the Winter Gamesin Pyeongchang from February 9 to 29.
The 24-year-old has got the required score in four racesbut needs to record 140 or less in one more race before theJanuary 21 cut-off date.
If he doesn't make the Darbandsar Ski Resort in Iran forthe two-day event starting tomorrow, his chances of making thecut for Olympics are as good as over.
His sister Aanchal, who won India's first internationalmedal in skiing earlier this week, today to took to socialmedia seeking government help for her brother.
She has written to External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj, who is known for her prompt help.
"My brother Himanshu Thakur has tomorrow last chance toqualify for Winter Olympics 2018. I kindly request hon'ble PM@narendramodi, foreign minister @SushmaSwaraj, sports minister@Ra_THORe,chief minister HP. @jairamthakurbjp to help him ingranting arrival visa in Tehran,Iran," she posted on Twittertagging the Prime Minister, Swaraj, Sports MinisterRajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Himachal Pradesh Chief MinisterJai Ram Thakur.
According to Roshan Thakur, father of Himanshu andAanchal, his son is staying put at Frankfurt airport withcoach Hira Lal in hope that he gets the necessary visaclearance to board the flight to Tehran.
"They have got the visa approval but it is not stamped ontheir passports. Therefore, they were not allowed to board theflight to Tehran after they reached Frankfurt from Iceland,"he said.
"We are keeping our fingers crossed," said Roshan, whoalso happens to be the secretary of the Winter GamesFederation of India. PTI BS SSCBS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.