149 Indian athletes stranded in Turkey are safe: Sports Minister

Bengaluru: Union sports minister Vijay Goel on Saturday said all 149 Indian athletes participating in the World School Games at Trabzon in Turkey are safe, amid an attempted military coup in that country in which at least 265 people have died.

“I have contacted the ministry of external affairs and India’s Ambassador to Turkey and they have confirmed that the 149 athletes participating in the world games in Trabzon area of Turkey are safe,” he said here.

Goel also said that he has ascertained from the organisers and the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), that all children are safe and the games are on, adding the Sports Authority of India has set up a control room with the help of SGFI.