"Do not insult players" — Manu Bhaker's tweet to Air India goes viral

Indian ace shooter Manu Bhaker was caught up in a pre-flight tussle with the staff of Air India and the airport security prior to boarding her flight. In a series of tweets that went viral yesterday, the 19-year-old stated that she was held up at the Air India check-in counter in the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

She tagged Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju along with Narendra Modi after being stopped at the check-in counter to pay Rs. 10200 for excess baggage. Moreover, she alleges that she was humiliated despite having all the requisite documents and permissions with her.

https://twitter.com/realmanubhaker/status/1362778249655246849?s=20

She even clicked pictures of the Air India officials and the policemen who confronted her regarding the baggage and who seemingly even questioned her intention behind carrying a weapon and ammunition on board. They reportedly snatched her mother’s phone and deleted pictures taken off them.

https://twitter.com/realmanubhaker/status/1362781597745881092?s=20

While it is common knowledge that athletes are allowed to carry excess baggage on flights with prior permission, it seemed that Air India officials would not agree to the valid documentation of Manu Bhaker that was approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The ISSF gold medallist was travelling for training at the MP Shooting academy and was at odds until a timely intervention by Kiren Rijiju ensured that she could board her flight in time. She later thanked the Union Sports Minister and called out Air India and the officials for mistreating her for no apparent reason.

Air India responds

Air India responded almost immediately with a series of tweets. They stated that the official at the counter only asked for valid documents that were specified under official rules for carrying weapons on board. There was no ‘ bribe’ as such and the money asked for was official monetary charges levied on those who could not furnish specific weapon documents. They reiterated that respect for sportspersons is always a priority for Air India given the numerous sportsperson who are associated with the company.

https://twitter.com/airindiain/status/1362807111197937667?s=20

Manu Bhaker meanwhile continues her training in a bid to secure a podium finish at the upcoming Olympics to be held in Tokyo. She is one of India’s most promising hopefuls and will be raring to go for gold in the next few months.

Also Read: Olympic is huge, need to stay calm before facing range — Manu Bhaker