Japanese Badminton Star Nozomi Okuhara Narrates Logistical Nightmare In India, BAI Terms It 'Unfortunate'

Former world champion and Olympic medallist shuttler Nozomi Okuhara recently narrated her harrowing travel experience in India where she was duped by Delhi's notorious cab drivers and also made to wait for four hours before being allotted a hotel room in Cuttack, Odisha. The 28-year-old Okuhara, took to the social media platform fansnet.jp to narrate her ordeal after being harassed by cab drivers at Delhi airport and not getting any official transportation after arriving in Cuttack on Monday to play in the Odisha Open.

She also had to wait for four hours to check in at the hotel and wasn't provided with a shuttle bus/car for her scheduled 8 am practice session.

An embarrassed Badminton Association of India (BAI) general secretary Sanjay Mishra termed the series of incidents as "unfortunate" and promised that "it won't happen in future".

However, in the local organising committee's defence, the all-powerful BAI secretary general said the ace Japanese shuttler didn't send any e-mail informing the logistical details (local travel and accommodation) which could have ensured proper arrangement prior to her arrival.

"I understand what Okuhara must have been through but the fact is that we didn't receive any email regarding accommodation or transportation from her end. It is a technical issue and a matter of miscommunication. We had no information," Mishra told PTI.

Terming it as an unfortunate incident, Mishra promised that nothing of this sort will happen in future.

"It is unfortunate but the moment I came to know about it I spoke to the organisers and provided all help. She is a big player and is our guest and we will ensure nothing of this sort happens in future." A former world No. 1, Okuhara, who claimed the Syed Modi