TT ace loses baggage en route from Peru, seeks govt help
Indian table tennis player Manika Batra, inconvenienced due to losing her baggage on a KLM flight from Peru, tweeted about her situation and requested for help from the government. In response, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia replied back on the platform, saying “Looking into this.”
“Thank you sir,” Batra replied.
The assurance from the minister would have pacified Batra, upset at losing her baggage despite flying business class and the baggage having a priority tag.
“Unbelievable disappointment with @KLM.! Priority-tagged baggage lost on a business class flight, including my essential sports kit for an upcoming tournament," the world No. 35 tweeted through her official handle. “Staff at the airport had no answers or any solutions & they had no idea where my bag is. @JM_Scindia sir pls help.”
Batra also posted an image of her boarding card.
Batra was returning to India (August 6-7 flight) after playing in a WTT Contender tournament in Lima via Amsterdam.
Batra, 28, lost in the round of 32 to Japan’s world number 14 Miu Hirano 11-3, 11-7, 10-12, 6-11, 9-11.
Batra and G Sathiyan, ranked seventh in mixed doubles, are among India’s medal prospects in the Asian Games from September 23 to October 8.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast were the finest hour of the Delhi-born Batra. She won the individual gold and was the key factor in India winning the team gold. In both events she overcame formidable Singaporean opposition. She received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020.
Keeping calm even she is down is one of her strengths, Batra has said in the past.
“When I am down, something like three games to one, or 7-10 down in a particular game, then I keep myself very calm and I keep telling myself — 'I can win it from here also.' That is my strength,” Batra once said in an interview.