The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Punia, Kalkal stranded in Dubai enroute to Oly qualifiers
INDIA’S PARIS Olympics medal hopeful Deepakpuniaandfellowwrestlersujeetkalkal have been stranded at the Dubai International Airportsincetuesdayowingtotherecordrainfall that’s led to floods and caused disruption.
The unprecedented situation has put the duo’s participation in the Asian Olympic Qualifying tournament, to be held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), in serious doubt. Punia and Kalkal’s bouts are to take place on Friday, with weigh-in scheduled for 8 am local time.
However,sportsauthorityofindiasaidthat the wrestlers will be accommodated in a flight from Dubai to Bishkek on Thursday itself.
“Officials of @cgidubai are in touch with wrestlers,deepakpuniaandsujeetkalkalwho have been stranded in Dubai due to the disruption of flights. They will be accommodated inaflightfromdubaitobishkektonightahead of the Asian Olympic Qualifying tournament,”
SAI said in a Facebook post.
Punia,whocompetesinthe86kgcategory, and Kalkal, who wrestlers in the 65 kg weight class, are accompanied by their Russian coach Kamal Malikov and physio Shubham Gupta.
According to Kalkal’s father Dayanand, the wrestlers are hoping to get a late-night flight from Dubai, which – if it departs – will ensure they reach Bishkek at around 4.30 am local time. “At least then they will be able to appear for the weigh-in at 8 and participate in their bouts later in the day,” Dayanand told The Indian Express. “But it’s a tense situation. I am worried for their well-being.”
Even if they make it in time for the qualifiers,dayanandsaidhewasconcernedifpunia and Kalkal would be physically and mentally ready to compete. “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,” Dayanand said.
While the other Indian wrestlers, includingvineshphogat,leftforbishkekdirectlyfrom Delhi, Punia and Kalkal were travelling by themselves.theduowastrainingindagestan, Russia,fromapril2to15.onapril16,theytook aflightfrommakachkalatobishkekviadubai, whichwasbookedbythewrestlingfederation of India (WFI). Operations at the Dubai airport, however, have been severely disrupted due to the heavy rains, which have battered the Emirates. According to the UAE government, the country received its highest rainfall in 75 yearsasupto259.5mmofrainfellontuesday.
According to the BBC, around 300 flights havebeencancelledsofarandhundredsmore have been delayed. Punia, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games,isoneofthebiggestcontenderstoearn a qualification quota for the Paris Olympics from the tournament in Bishkek, which is the firstofthelasttwochancesforwrestlerstoearn spots for their nations.
This was the first major tournament for Kalkal, who made the cut in a weight class in whichbajrangpuniawonabronzeatthetokyo Olympics. Bajrang, who was among the wrestlers to lead the protests against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and alleged that he had sexualy harrassed women wresters,lostintheearlyroundsofthedomestic selection trials, where Kalkal prevailed.
The challenge for both wrestlers, even if they reach Bishkek in time for their bouts, will betoensuretheycancutweightandremaineligible to take part.
WFI President Sanjay Singh could not be reached for comment.