Manika Batra and six other top paddlers were denied boarding on their Melbourne bound flight by Air India.
India's table tennis star Manika Batra and six other top paddlers finally left for Australia on Sunday night after an ordeal involving Air India. The Table Tennis players, who were on their way to participate in ITTF World Tour Australian Open, were denied boarding on a Melbourne bound flight.
Manika on Sunday evening had tweeted her ordeal highlighting the grave mismanagement by the national carrier. Manika in her tweet said that a team of seven Indian players including her, were denied boarding on an Air India Delhi-Melbourne flight due to overbooking.
The Indian contingent, comprising 17 players and officials, was scheduled to participate at the ITTF World Tour Australian Open starting Monday in Melbourne.
Manika had tagged Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office in her tweet.
She wrote, "Our contingent of total 17 players and 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 AI 0308 to participate in ITTF World Tour Australian Open from tom."
"On reaching Air India counter we were told that flight is overbooked and 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," she tweeted.
Neelam Kapur, Director General of Sports Authority of India, immediately responded to Manika's tweets and promised to look into the matter.
"The TT team have been booked on an alternate flight leaving later tonight," Kapur confirmed on her official Twitter handle.
Manika later posted a photograph of herself on Twitter with a boarding pass in hand and thanked Kapur for taking prompt action and getting the tickets booked.
"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," Manika tweeted.
Air India blames late arrival
Air India, however, laid the blame on late arrival of players and the bookings done under different PNRs.
Facing criticism, the airline said it was not apprised beforehand about the travel plans as per practice and that it had the highest respect for sportspersons.
"#airindia has a rich legacy in promoting sports and has always had the highest respect for sportspersons. The Indian #Tabletennisteam were booked for today's melbourne flt under different PNRs & some of them may have reported after all other pax had checked in."
"Contrary to the practice, #AirIndia was not apprised beforehand about the travel of team. The players were provided with hotel stay and offered flight for next day," it tweeted.
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 "Manika Batra")
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