Greco-Roman team recounts their ‘Horror Journey’ from Azerbaijan to India

By   - 18/03/2020

“After returning home we took a big sigh of relief”. The long-sigh of relief by the Indian Greco-Roman team head coach Hargobind was enough to explain how terrified Indian wrestling squad was while returning back to India from Azerbaijan. The Greco-Roman team was training in Baku, when they were asked by authorities to return to India on Tuesday as Azerbaijan decided to impose strict travel restrictions. The development took the 10-men Indian contingent by surprise as at time they were resting in their hotel.

“Since the arena we practice was closed on Saturday, we were in our hotel resting. But then we got to know that the authorities have decided to suspend all the flights, and this was a piece of worrying news,” Greco 130kg wrestler Naveen told WrestlingTV recounting the nightmare.

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As per the advisory, Azerbaijan had decided to close its border and suspend all the flights to Doha via Qatar Airlines with effect from March 17. The Indian squad were scheduled to transit through Qatar while returning to India. Furthermore, the Indian government’s new advisory had complicated the situation for them. India recently extended compulsory quarantine for passengers coming from UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait with effect from March 18. This meant that if the Greco team had gone ahead with its original schedule of returning on March 22, they would have been left stranded in Baku.

“We were originally planned to return on March 22. But after the new advisory, we informed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). They called the Indian Embassy to help us out,” Naveen added.
But the horror show did not end there. The Indian Embassy informed the Indian squad that there is only one last flight left to fly out after which the next would be after 45 days.

“After we reached the Indian Embassy, they told us that there is only one flight left. If we do not board that then we will be stuck in Baku for next 45 days,” Naveen said.

Apart from Naveen, Sunil (87kg), Gyanendra (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Gurpreet Singh (77kg), and Hardeep (97kg) were training in Azerbaijan. They were accompanied by foreign coach Temo Kasarashvili, Hargobind Singh, and Paramjit (masseur).

After reaching home, the team was scanned thoroughly at the airport after which they were allowed to go home.

“The flight we travelled was completely packed. All there was, were talks of Coronavirus. There was a sense of tension everywhere. Everyone looked scared in the flight too.”, said, players

“After our arrival, we were scanned and made to fill two forms. It was a strange feeling to see the New Delhi airport completely empty and silent but we were glad to be back,” Gurpreet said.

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