Five members of Bangladesh’s national table tennis team and their coach have been stranded at an airport in Thailand for two days while returning from Japan after taking part in the Asian Games. Their journey has been disrupted by sudden flooding, which has affected flight operations and left them waiting for an alternative route home.
The stranded players are Ramhimlion Bom, Imrul Kayes Emon, Sonam Sultana Soma, Nowrin Sultana Mahi and Samanta Hossain Tushi. They are travelling with team coach and federation member Md Mohsinul Alam Jhinu.
Other members of the Bangladesh delegation have already returned home. Team manager and Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation general secretary Md Saidul Haque Sadi and leading men’s player Muhtasin Ahmed Hridoy were booked on a different flight and were therefore able to complete their journey without being caught up in the disruption affecting the other passengers.
According to information from the team, passengers travelling with Thai Airways have been particularly affected by the flooding. The sudden natural disaster has disrupted flight operations and created additional pressure on both the airline and airport authorities, who are having to manage passengers whose travel plans have been interrupted.
The Bangladeshi players and their coach have consequently been left waiting at the airport. Despite spending two days there, they have yet to receive a confirmed schedule for their return to Bangladesh. The uncertainty has extended what was expected to be a routine journey home following their participation in the international sporting event in Japan.
The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is working to arrange alternative flights for the stranded members of the team. Officials are communicating with the relevant authorities and looking for available options to bring the players and coach home as soon as possible.
However, the timing of their return remains uncertain. Any new travel arrangement will depend on flight availability and the situation caused by the flooding in Thailand. Until alternative seats are secured, the group is expected to remain at the airport.
The incident has also separated the Bangladesh delegation during its return journey. While Sadi and Hridoy have already reached Bangladesh, the five players and their coach remain in Thailand because of the disruption to their scheduled travel.
For the time being, the BOA and the officials concerned are continuing efforts to find an alternative flight. No confirmed information has yet been provided on when the stranded players and coach will be able to return to Bangladesh.
