India’s table tennis star Manika Batra along with fellow compatriots were left stranded at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after being denied boarding on a Melbourne flight by Air India on Sunday. They were on their way for an International event.
Manika Batra used social media to share the frightful situation and asked Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Prime Minister’s Office to do the needful. The 17 players and officials were scheduled to depart for the ITTF World Tour Australian Open starting on Monday in Melbourne.
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“Our contingent of total 17 players & officials of Indian table tennis team including CWG medalist myself, Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das, Madhurika, Harmeet, Suthirta, Sathyan were supposed to fly today to Melbourne by Air India 0308 to participate in ITTF World Tour Australian Open from tom,” Manika tweeted.
Director General of Sports India, Neelam Kapur swung into action immediately and sorted out the matter. “The TT team have been booked on an alternate flight leaving later tonight,” Kapur confirmed later. However, replying to another user, she clarified that the table tennis team reached late for their flight.