Reports | Archery Association of India contemplating legal action against Dutch airline

The Indian archers were scheduled to take the Royal Dutch Airlines KLM 872 from Delhi to Amsterdam on Saturday but the flight was delayed by around three hours. This led to the Indian team’s non-participation in the prestigious world event in Columbia.

Now as per a report in The Hindu, the national board has stated that it might take legal action against Dutch airlines KLM as their “failure to transport the Indian archery team to Colombia” prevented the Indian contingent from playing in the World Cup.

“The AAI officials, senior SAI officers and the travel agents worked very hard during the weekend to book the team through some other route but could not succeed as the flights were full for Easter weekend…Hence the trip was abandoned informing World Archery and local organisers of World Cup in Columbia,” said AAI in a statement, reported The Hindu.

“It was the responsibility of KLM to transport the Indian team to Colombia. Hence, AAI is seriously considering to sue the airlines for the damage of its reputation and the loss of participation of the Indian archers in a crucial competition.”

AAI secretary Maha Singh had earlier said that the association had submitted the proposal for the trip 75 days in advance and had gotten visa applications processed as well for the contingent. He had also lashed out at the sports ministry saying that getting the tickets booked is the government’s responsibility.