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Asian Games: Badminton squad left stranded as team bus driver goes missing

The Indian badminton team, which had arrived at the Gyeyang Gymkhana far away from the Athletes Village early this morning, was left stranded after the conclusion of the women's quarterfinals match against Thailand late in the night as the driver of the bus which was to ferry them back went missing.

Asian Games: Badminton squad left stranded as team bus driver goes missing

Incheon: The Indian badminton team, which had arrived at the Gyeyang Gymkhana far away from the Athletes Village early this morning, was left stranded after the conclusion of the women's quarterfinals match against Thailand late in the night as the driver of the bus which was to ferry them back went missing.

The entire team was waiting for the bus to leave at 10:50 pm local time but till half an hour later, the bus did not commence its journey putting the tired players and officials on tenterhooks.

Some officials and star shuttler Saina Nehwal complained to the volunteer who was at his wits end and entreated him to solve the problem at the earliest as they had to reach the Athletes' Village and then return tomorrow for their semifinal encounter against South Korea.

One of the contingent officials was heard telling the Games volunteer that no food would be available if the team members reach the Athletes Village after midnight.

Asked about the accommodation in the village, he complained that it fell short in terms of comforts like air-conditioning and there was ceiling fans also.

"When you ask for a fan to be installed temporarily they tell us to pay USD 9 dollars as hiring charges," he complained.

This morning, bronze medal winning pistol shooter Shweta Chaudhry had told reporters that the athletes were finding it difficult to find any food to suit the Indian palate.

"They served us dal one day which was more like a soup and after that even that has gone missing," she told reporters at the shooting range.