Indian Wrestlers' Airport Nightmare: Grounded In Flooded Dubai, Sleeping On Terminal Floor

Two top Indian wrestlers, Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalkal, find themselves in a predicament as they face unexpected delays and disruptions in their journey to the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bishkek. Amidst record rainfall that wreaked havoc on travel plans to and from Dubai, the athletes have been stranded at the airport since Tuesday, battling against the odds to make it to their crucial bouts scheduled for Friday.

The Struggle Amidst Record Rainfall
The Indian Express sheds light on the ordeal faced by Punia and Kalkal, who have been forced to sleep on the floor of the terminal, deprived of proper food and facing uncertainty regarding their travel plans.

Kalkal’s father expressed that the athletes were aiming to catch a flight from Dubai late on Thursday to ensure they arrive in time for their bouts scheduled in Bishkek on Friday. "They have been sleeping on the floor of the terminal and have not been able to eat proper food. They are in a terrible situation," stated Kalkal’s father Dayanand, as quoted by the newspaper.

Disrupted Operations at Dubai Airport
Dubai, home to one of the world’s busiest airports, has witnessed a slowdown in operations due to the aftermath of the torrential rain. With roads flooded and public transport services suspended, airport staff struggled to report to duty, exacerbating the situation for stranded passengers. Emirates, the flagship airline of Dubai, took the drastic step of cancelling all check-ins, further complicating travel arrangements.

Race Against Time for Olympic Qualification

The Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek carry significant stakes for Indian wrestlers, with seventeen athletes representing the country in various categories. With just hours remaining before the commencement of the qualifiers, Punia, Kalkal, and their compatriots are locked in a race against time to secure coveted spots for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Indian Squad and Quota Opportunities
India has fielded a formidable squad across men’s Greco-Roman, women’s freestyle, and men’s freestyle categories, aiming to clinch Paris 2024 quotas in 18 weight divisions. Wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik, and Deepak Punia are among those vying for Olympic qualification, with the Bishkek tournament representing a crucial opportunity ahead of the final wrestling qualifiers in Turkey.

Looking Ahead: Final Qualification Opportunities
While the current challenges at Dubai airport cast a shadow of uncertainty over the immediate future, Indian grapplers remain focused on their ultimate goal: securing Olympic quotas. The upcoming World Qualification Tournament in Turkey looms large as the final opportunity for wrestlers to punch their tickets to the Summer Games, adding to the intensity and significance of the ongoing qualifiers in Bishkek.

INDIAN SQUAD

Men’s Greco-Roman: Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil (87kg), Nitesh (97kg), Naveen (130kg)

Women’s freestyle: Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), Mansi (62kg), Nisha (68kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg)

Men’s freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Sujeet (65kg), Jaideep (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg), Deepak (97kg), Sumit (125kg)