Indian Football Team Stranded in Turkmenistan Due to Bad Weather
India, who are in Turkmenistan for a World Cup qualifier, were supposed to travel to Oman for another match on October 13. But bad weather led to cancellation of flights and hence the team was stranded at the airport.
The Indian senior national football team is stranded in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, because of bad weather. India were to travel to Muscat, Oman, via Dubai for their World Cup qualifier on October 13. (India slump to fourth straight loss to Turkmenistan)
But the team got stuck up at the Ashgabat International Airport due to late arrival of flights. India, on Thursday, lost their World Cup qualifier against Turkmenistan.
The Indian team left the hotel in Ashgabat at 1pm (Turkmenistan time, Thursday) and will not be able to board any flight till 3am (Turkmenistan time) due to bad weather, as mentioned by the airport authorities.
India were supposed to reach Muscat past midnight following a connecting flight from Dubai, after leaving Ashgabat at 5:30pm (Turkmenistan time).
As of now, the Indian team is waiting for the next slated flight for Dubai at the Ashgabat International Airport, which is supposed to leave at 3am (Turkmenistan time).
Thereafter, the Indian contingent will be boarding the next available flight from Dubai to Muscat. The timing of which cannot be guaranteed by the airlines authorities.
"The sudden change of events comes as a huge disadvantage. We had an agreement with the Oman Football Association about the practice sessions, but we are helpless at the moment," India's head coach Stephen Constantine told AIFF's Official Twitter handle.
"It puts us at further disadvantage. Every training session is so important and we cannot afford to miss any. I am also worried about the recovery of the players," he added.