'They are here because of us. Not the other way around. I am okay flying economy but not if these officials are given better seats,' an Indian volleyball player said
Jakarta: Some things don’t change in Indian sports administration. The athletes who brought glory to the nation at the Asian Games 2018 flew back home in economy class while a top official enjoyed the luxury of business class travel. This has irked the athletes.
India achieved its best-ever medals tally in the history of Asian Games. At the 18th edition of the continent’s multi-sports extravaganza in Indonesia, the athletes catapulted the nation to 69 medals. The Games concluded on Sunday.
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RK Sacheti, deputy chef de mission of the Indian contingent, flew back in business class while the Indian athletes were in economy class.
The athletes, who represent the country, are provided with economy class air tickets. However, it is not the same with officials of various sports associations in the country.
An Indian volleyball player questioned why officials travelled in business class while the athletes flew in economy.
"They are here because of us. Not the other way around. I am okay flying economy but not if these officials are given better seats," said a member of the Indian volleyball team on board SQ 967 from Jakarta to Singapore.
Sacheti justified his travel stating that he upgraded his seat with his air miles.
"We too are supposed to fly economy but I have used my air miles to upgrade," Sacheti, who is an executive director of Boxing Federation of India, was quoted as saying by PTI.
This is not the first time that officials have travelled in business class. In 2016 Olympics, ace sprinter Dutee Chand was forced to travel to Brazil for 36 hours in economy class as officials headed to Rio de Janeiro in business class.
In Indonesia, Dutee won two silver medals, one each in 100m and 200m.
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