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 home after taking part in the Asian Games in Japan. Their journey has been disrupted by sudden flooding, which has affected flight operations and left a number of passengers waiting for alternative arrangements.
The stranded players are Ramhimlion Bom, Imrul Kayes Emon, Sonam Sultana Soma, Nowrin Sultana Mahi and Samanta Hossain Tushi. They are accompanied by team coach and federation member Md Mohsinul Alam Jhinu.
The rest of the Bangladesh delegation has not faced the same difficulty. Team manager and Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation general secretary Md Saidul Haque Sadi, along with leading men’s player Muhtasin Ahmed Hridoy, managed to return home because they had tickets on a different flight.
According to information available from the team, the disruption has primarily affected passengers travelling with Thai Airways. The sudden flooding has created significant difficulties for both the airline and airport authorities, who are dealing with disrupted schedules and passengers requiring assistance. As a result, the Bangladeshi players and their coach have also been forced to remain at the airport while waiting for a way to continue their journey.
The situation has left the team uncertain about when they will be able to return to Bangladesh. Although they have already spent two days waiting, no confirmed schedule for their onward journey has yet been provided.
The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is working to arrange alternative flights for the five players and the coach. Efforts are under way to find a practical route that would allow them to return home as soon as possible, subject to flight availability and the prevailing conditions in Thailand.
For the players, the disruption comes immediately after their participation in an international multi-sport event in Japan. Their return journey was expected to be routine, but the flooding and resulting disruption to air travel have instead extended their trip.
The BOA and the concerned officials are continuing to monitor the situation and communicate with the relevant authorities. However, until flight operations become sufficiently stable and alternative seats are secured, the exact date of the team’s return remains uncertain.
For now, the priority is to ensure that the stranded players and their coach can leave Thailand safely and resume their journey to Bangladesh at the earliest available opportunity.
