In pics: Indian football team stuck in Ashgabat due to bad weather
New Delhi: The Indian senior national football team got 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.
#IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA At the Ashgabat Airport. Flight at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/eRsQfhzm9l
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
#IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA The queue at the counter. pic.twitter.com/IBYt5GMMzE
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
But the team got stuck up at the Ashgabat International Airport due to late arrival of flights.
#IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA The wait continues. pic.twitter.com/yIFnAZM58f
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
#IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA Team stuck at Ashgabat Airport pic.twitter.com/NDC8ZEdhrh
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
#BacktheBlue #INDvOMA Team still stuck up at Ashgabat Airport. Tired. Frustrating. @StephenConstan @dannydeigan pic.twitter.com/1BIfJpJSXz
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
The Indian team left the hotel in Ashgabat at 1pm (Turkmenistan time) 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).
#BacktheBlue #INDvOMA Flight expected at 3am. No confirmation yet. Missed connecting from Dubai to Muscat. pic.twitter.com/fa59fWBuGs
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
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).
Team unable to leave Ashgabat. Back to hotel. Put on same flight at same time tomo evening. One full day goes waste. #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
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.
Team unable to leave Ashgabat. Back to hotel. Put on same flight at same time tomo evening. One full day goes waste. #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
"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.
Sudden change of events comes as a huge disadvantage: @StephenConstan reflects on the situation at hand. #INDvOMA #BackTheBlue
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 9, 2015
"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.
As per the latest development, the Indian football team is supposed to fly out at 5.30pm weather permitting.
#IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA Team supposed to fly out at 5.30pm weather permitting.
— AIFF (@AiffMedia) October 10, 2015