 "India's Deepak Punia, Sujeet Kalkal not allowed to compete in Asian Olympic Wrestling Qualifiers due to flight delay")
India’s Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalkal were on Friday not allowed to take part in the Asian Olympic Wreslting Qualifiers after they reached late for the weigh-in. As per a PTI report, the Indian wrestlers reached Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, where the trials are being held, after the weigh-in to record body weights ahead of the bouts had already started and the organisers refused to allow Punia and Kalkal.
The report added that the request from Indian coaches for a late weigh-in was also refused by the organisers.
The Indian duo had been starnded at the Dubai airport since Tuesday due to the heavy rainfall in the city which caused floods.
“They were stuck at the Dubai airport since April 16 and it seems the chance of qualifying for Paris Olympics is slipping out of their hands as they are scheduled to compete tomorrow. They are not getting any flights to Bishkek. I am worried about them,” Sujeet’s father, Dayanand Kalakal, had told PTI on Thursday.
They were training in Dagestan, Russia and left for Bishkek on 16 April from Makachkala via Dubai. However, they were left stranded at Dubai airport alongside their coach Kamal Malikov and physio Shubham Gupta due to unprecented rain.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Thursday night had shared on X that Consulate General of India in Dubai were in touch with the Indian wrestlers who were to be accomadated on a flight from Dubai to Bishkek.
But despite the efforts the duo could not reach the competition in time.
“Officials of CGI Dubai are in touch with wrestlers, Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalkal who have been stranded in Dubai due to the disruption of flights. They will be accommodated in a flight from Dubai to Bishkek tonight ahead of the Asian Olympic Qualifying tournament,” SAI had posted.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsPunia and Kalkal will have the final opportunity to qualify for the Paris Olympics at the World Qualifiers next month.
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