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India U-23 Players Made To Wait At The Dhaka Airport For Over 12 Hours
The players couldn’t sleep following their SAFF Cup triumph and the reason is...
16-Dec-2009 7:38:23 AM
India won the SAFF Cup on Sunday evening beating defending
champions Maldives on penalties with Arindam Bhattacharya playing the hero’s
role between the sticks. However, what followed thereafter hasn’t been a journey
to remember for the players.
The Indian contingent were to leave Bangladesh on Monday evening and expected to reach Mumbai at 20.30 IST but were informed that their flight was delayed. They were kept waiting at the airport until 1.00 am and were later informed that the flight was cancelled.
“Then they took us to a third class hotel where we had our dinner and it was 3 am by then. At 5 am, they once again took us to the airport saying that our flight was ready for take-off,” said one of the senior players.
What followed was a nightmarish experience as the players were kept waiting at the airport until the evening around 5 pm, with several players not even having had the chance to have their lunch.
“We haven’t slept for the last two nights. Now it’s time to take rest,” said Coach Sukhwinder Singh on his arrival in Mumbai last night.
When Goal.com contacted Air India’s helpline number to inquire about the flight from Dhaka on Tuesday, the reason given by the authorities was,
“The flight is scheduled to land at 9 am but we don’t have the departure details from Dhaka!”
If this was not it, then there was more to follow. Arindam Bhattacharya was informed by Air India officials at the Kolkata airport that his luggage has gone to Thailand and shall be delivered to him as soon as possible!
“After such a horrendous journey, I’m told that my luggage has gone to Thailand. My match boots and gloves are in there and I wonder how will I play in the Federation Cup?” said the Churchill goalkeeper.
Rahul Bali.
The Indian contingent were to leave Bangladesh on Monday evening and expected to reach Mumbai at 20.30 IST but were informed that their flight was delayed. They were kept waiting at the airport until 1.00 am and were later informed that the flight was cancelled.
“Then they took us to a third class hotel where we had our dinner and it was 3 am by then. At 5 am, they once again took us to the airport saying that our flight was ready for take-off,” said one of the senior players.
What followed was a nightmarish experience as the players were kept waiting at the airport until the evening around 5 pm, with several players not even having had the chance to have their lunch.
“We haven’t slept for the last two nights. Now it’s time to take rest,” said Coach Sukhwinder Singh on his arrival in Mumbai last night.
When Goal.com contacted Air India’s helpline number to inquire about the flight from Dhaka on Tuesday, the reason given by the authorities was,
“The flight is scheduled to land at 9 am but we don’t have the departure details from Dhaka!”
If this was not it, then there was more to follow. Arindam Bhattacharya was informed by Air India officials at the Kolkata airport that his luggage has gone to Thailand and shall be delivered to him as soon as possible!
“After such a horrendous journey, I’m told that my luggage has gone to Thailand. My match boots and gloves are in there and I wonder how will I play in the Federation Cup?” said the Churchill goalkeeper.
Rahul Bali.
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