CHENNAI: Indian table tennis players selected for the Asian Games were in for a shock on Sunday. On their way to the Australian Open, the 17-member contingent, including 10 players, were stopped at New Delhi airport by Air India officials because Flight AI 308 was overbooked.
Despite protests, the group was split into two, with seven members having to stay back. They included CWG star Manika Batra and Italian coach Massimo Costantini.
Air India officials finally accommodated them on a 10.45 pm flight. The event starts in Melbourne on Tuesday and the flight the seven took isn’t a direct one.
A livid Manika took to Twitter and drew the attention of PM Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore. “On reaching Air India counter we were told flight is overbooked & only 10 members of TT team can fly. 7 are unable to fly,” she wrote.
DG of Sports India Neelam Kapoor responded by saying, “Will look into this immediately.” After the ministry’s intervention, the seven were booked on the 10.45 pm flight.
Massimo told Express they had to wait for five hours and fill out a bunch of paperwork before being taken to a two-star hotel. “It’s disappointing, to say the least. This is our last event ahead of the Asian Games. These things affect players.”
Table Tennis Federation of India secretary general MP Singh said, “It was irresponsible on the part of Air India. Only because of the sports ministry could we sort it out. Medal-winning athletes shouldn’t be treated in this way.”