New Delhi: Indian archers returning from the Asian Championships in Dhaka faced a harrowing 24 hours after their flight to Delhi was abruptly cancelled, leaving eleven members of the contingent, including two minors, stranded in the violence-hit capital without security or adequate accommodation.
The team, which included senior archers Abhishek Verma, Jyoti Surekha and Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara, arrived at Dhaka airport on Saturday evening for a scheduled 9.30 pm departure. After boarding, they were informed that the aircraft had developed a technical problem, forcing everyone to deboard. With no clarity on the situation and the city tense due to ongoing unrest linked to a high-profile court verdict, the athletes waited inside the terminal until 2 am.
When the airline eventually announced the cancellation, passengers were told that no alternate flight would be arranged that night. Matters worsened once the team stepped outside the airport. They were transported in a windowless local bus to a temporary shelter nearly 30 minutes away. The facility, described by the archers as cramped and poorly maintained, offered limited space, six beds in a single room for the women, and only one unhygienic toilet for the group.
Attempts to find safer accommodation failed as digital payments and international cards were not being accepted. With no confirmation on their rescheduled flight, the contingent had little choice but to wait until morning before returning to the airport at 7 am for their onward journey.
The disruption continued after the team reached Delhi, with several members missing their connecting flights to Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The federation was forced to cover the cost of expensive re-bookings, adding to the strain of an already difficult return.
The ordeal overshadowed India’s strongest performance at the Asian Championships, where the team topped the medal table with ten podium finishes, including six gold medals. While other groups travelling to Mumbai and Kolkata returned without incident, the Delhi-bound squad faced an experience that raised serious concerns over passenger safety and support during emergencies.
