This is very unfortunate to have such incident: Jhulan Goswami on Manu Bhaker Delhi Airport incident – India Today

Prominent Indian sportspersons such as Jhulan Goswami, Dhanraj Pillay and Harendra Singh-Harry have taken to social media in support of ace shooter Manu Bhaker after officials at Delhi airport stopped her from boarding her flight to Bhopal.

The Tokyo Olympics-bound shooter said that the officials stopped her and treated her "like a criminal" because she was carrying guns and ammunitions for training at the MP Shooting Academy.

"This is very unfortunate to have such incident occurred, but my association with Air India as an employee and a passenger is remarkable. AI has always set benchmark for showing respect to sports and sportspersons.@airindiain" Goswami tweeted.

"Remember there are always 2 sides to a story. As an Olympian & a proud member of the Air India family for over 2 decades, I take great pride in the institution,which has always supported sportspersons & extended all assistance in pursuit of excellence," hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay tweeted.

In her tweet, the 19-year-old, added that she faced humiliation despite carrying all valid documentation and (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) DGCA permit. In a series of tweets, Bhaker also revealed that she was being asked to pat Rs 10,200 by the airlines officials. She also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in one of her tweets.

"#HarrySpeak Being a ex Airindiain I m can say one thing for sure that, Air India is one of organizations which have always supported Sports people from all the discipline. I am proud that I worked & played for AI, in fact AI is more courteous to sportsman at Airport @airindiain

"Being a ex Airindiain I can say one thing for sure that , Air India is one of organizations which have always supported Sports people from all the discipline. I am proud that I worked & played for Air India @airindiain @kannandelhi," former India hockey player and coach Harendra Singh said.

Bhaker, an ISSF World Cup gold-medallist, later thanked Kiren Rijiju for the "strong support" which helped her finally board the flight.

Manu Bhaker, one of India's brightest medal hopes at Tokyo Olympics 2020, has secured an Olympic quota for India in the women's 10m air pistol event and enjoyed a successful season last year where she won five World Cup gold medals in individual and team events. She burst on to the national scene at the start of 2018 with a victory at the ISSF World Cup in Mexico, and has not looked back since.

Very recently, Manu Bhaker was nominated for the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award. She will be competing along side the likes of India hockey team capatin Rani Rampal, chess ace Koneru Humpy for the prestigious award.

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This is very unfortunate to have such incident: Jhulan Goswami on Manu Bhaker Delhi Airport incident - India Today