India’s table tennis contingent was left stranded at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Sunday night after they were not allowed to board the Air India flight to Melbourne, Australia.
A total 17 players and officials of Indian table tennis team, including CWG medalist Manika Batra, were to fly on Sunday night to Melbourne by Air India flight AI 0308 to participate in the ITTF World Tour Australian Open which begins from Monday.
However, Manika took to Twitter to share that Air India had refused to board all members of the contingent and stated that they had seats for only 10 people, stranding the remaining seven players.
“On reaching Air India counter we were told dat flight is overbooked &only 10 members of TT team can fly which left us in a shock.7 of us are still unable to fly. All the tickets were booked by Balmer Lawrie. @Ra_THORe @PMOIndia Shocked at such mismanagement by @airindiain,” Manika wrote on Twitter.
Contd- On reaching Air India counter we were told dat flight is overbooked &only 10 members of TT team can fly which left us in a shock.7 of us are still unable to fly.All the tickets were booked by Balmer Lawrie.@Ra_THORe @PMOIndia Shocked at such mismanagement by @airindiain
— Manika Batra (@manikabatra_TT) July 22, 2018
The contingent included table tennis players Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das, Madhurika Pa
The Director-General of Sports Authority of India, Neelam Kapur, took note of Manika’s tweet and stated that the matter will be looked into.
Air India later accommodated them into a 10.45 pm flight and Manika posted a photograph of herself with a boarding pass on Twitter, thanking Neelam Kapur for her help.
“I would like to thank @NeelamKapur mam for the prompt action and getting our tickets booked for tonight. Finally got my boarding pass and flying soon. Thanks @Media_SAI @Ra_THORe sir @PMOIndia sir,” she tweeted.
I would like to thank @NeelamKapur mam for the prompt action and getting our tickets booked for tonight. Finally got my boarding pass and flying soon. Thanks @Media_SAI @Ra_THORe sir @PMOIndia sir pic.twitter.com/ciZPt07fAB
— Manika Batra (@manikabatra_TT) July 22, 2018
When several users demanded to know why Air India denied them seats in the first place, Neelam stated that the team reached late.
“They were supposed to reach three hours before the flight but reached at 10.30 for the flight at 12.40,” she tweeted.