The Indian Table Tennis Team was blocked by Air India prior to booking another flight

Manika Batra alerted authorities on Twitter about their problem. (Source: PTI Dossier)

Manika Batra, the star of Indian table tennis, and six other high-ranking paddlers remained stranded Sunday at Indira Gandhi International Airport after being seen refuse boarding on a Melbourne flight by Air India. Later, after complaining about their hardships and their treatment, India's DG Sport, Neelam Kapur, badured that they would be taken care of during a subsequent flight. . However, the reason for not taking the flight from Air India remains unclear.

The Indian contingent, comprising 17 players and officials, is expected to participate in the ITTF World Tour Australia Open on Monday in Melbourne. But to their disbelief, only 10 members of the team were allowed to board after Air India told them that the flight was overbooked. Besides Manika, the veteran Mouma Das was also one of seven players who were denied boarding.

Manika, gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games, shared his ordeal with Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and the Prime Minister's Office.

"Our contingent of 17 players and officials from the Indian table tennis team, including Sharath Kamal, Das Mouma, Madhurika, Harmeet, Suthirta and Sathyan, were expected to fly to Melbourne by AI 0308. "Arriving at the Air India counter, we were told that the data theft is overbooked and that only 10 members of the TT team can fly, which left us in a state of shock. 7 players are still unable to fly.All tickets have been reserved by Balmer Lawrie, "she added.

Our contingent of 17 players and officials from the Indian table tennis team including Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das, Madhurika, Harmeet, Suthirta, Sathyan were supposed to fly today in Melbourne by AI 0308 to participate in ITTF World Tour Tom's Australian Open

– Manika Batra (@manikabatra_TT) 22 July 2018 [19659011] Alarmed by the situation, Kapur immediately went into action and solved the problem. "The TT team was booked on another flight that leaves later tonight," confirmed Kapur later. another user, she specified that the table tennis team had arrived late for its flight.

The TT team was booked for another flight departing later tonight. @manikabatra_TT https://t.co/PwN0r6RDuY[19659013] – Neelam Kapur (@NeelamKapur) July 22, 2018

The team arrived late. They were supposed to reach three hours before the flight but reached at 10:30 the flight at 12:40. https://t.co/q3ByMlzrTO

– Neelam Kapur (@NeelamKapur) July 22, 2018

I would like to thank @NeelamKapur mam for quick action and l & # 39, getting our tickets booked for tonight. I finally got my boarding card and flew soon. Thank You @Media_SAI @Ra_THORe Mr. @PMOIndia Mr. pic.twitter.com/ciZPt07fAB

– Manika Batra (@manikabatra_TT) July 22, 2018

The Spokesman of Air India was not available for comment

(With PTI Entries)

For all the latest sports news, download Indian Express App

© Online Media Services Pvt Ltd