India’s Under-17 women wrestler stuck in Amman, Jordan

The Under-17 Indian women’s wrestling team was stuck at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan on Saturday after they could not get a flight back home after a highly successful campaign at the World Championships. Nine women wrestlers and three coaches were scheduled to return to India on Saturday evening but were booked on different flights. The coaches – Jai Bhagwan, Shilpi Sharon and Rekha Rani – were scheduled to fly on an Emirates flight with a stopover in Dubai while the young wrestlers were booked on Qatar Airways.

The coach flight (EK904) was scheduled to depart from Amman at 6:10 pm and reach Dubai at 10:10 pm. From there, they were to take a connecting flight at 3:55 am and reach Delhi at 9:05 am.

The wrestlers’ flight (QR 401) was scheduled to depart at 8:30 pm and reach Doha at 11:10 pm, but as per the flight status, it departed at 6:18 pm.

However, it is not clear if the flight was rescheduled or not.

“The young women wrestlers missed the flight. There is a lot of confusion about what happened. The young wrestlers should not have been booked on separate flights. SAI should have booked them on the same flight. They are kids,” said a source in the Indian contingent in Amman.

“Ideally at least one coach should have accompanied the young wrestlers. Efforts are now being made to bring them by the first available flight,” a source said.

Interestingly, coach Jai Bhagwan is the father of Manasi Lather, who won the world title in the 73kg category. They train at the Mirchpur training centre.

When contacted, a Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) official said efforts were being made to arrange for the wrestlers to be sent back home on the first available flight.

“Look, WFI is suspended. We are not in full control. We never book separate flights for young wrestlers and coaches. Now arrangements are being made for the wrestlers to stay overnight, there is no flight available for Saturday. They will be booked on the first available flight,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Riding on an exceptional performance that included eight medals, the Indian women won their maiden team title with 185 points, finishing ahead of mighty Japan (146) and Kazakhstan (79).

Indian women wrestlers participated in nine weight categories and won five gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)