Indians Deepak Punia, Sujeet Kalkal barred from participating in Asian Olympic wrestling qualifiers due to flight delay – Firstpost

India’s Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalkal were barred from participating in the Asian Olympic wrestling qualifiers on Friday after arriving late for the weigh-in. According to a PTI reports, Indian wrestlers arrived in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, where the trials are taking place, after weigh-ins to record body weights before the bouts had already begun and organizers refused to allow Punia and Kalkal in.

The Indian duo was expected at Dubai airport since Tuesday due to heavy rains in the city which caused flooding. They were training in Dagestan, Russia, and left on April 16 for Bishkek from Makachkala via Dubai. However, they found themselves stranded at Dubai airport alongside their coach Kamal Malikov and physio Shubham Gupta due to unprecedented rain.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) had announced on X on Thursday evening that the Consulate General of India in Dubai was in touch with the Indian wrestlers who were to be accommodated on a flight from Dubai to Bishkek.

But despite the efforts, the duo could not reach the competition in time.

“CGI Dubai officials are in touch with wrestlers Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalkal who are stranded in Dubai due to flight disruption. They will be accommodated this evening on a flight from Dubai to Bishkek ahead of the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament,” SAI had posted.

Punia and Kalkal will have the last opportunity to qualify for the Paris Olympics at the world qualifiers next month.