NEW DELHI: The Sports Authority of India on Friday clarified that India’s table tennis developmental coach, Yin Wei of China, is still in Kolkata and has not flown back home as reported earlier.
According to a SAI release, Yin Wei, who has been posted at the SAI’s National TT Academy in Kolkata, had requested for 30 days leave from 10th August, and it was approved by Director General, SAI, on 29th July. However, due to the cancellation of the flight, Yin Wei couldn’t travel home.
“In a letter to the SAI today, he [Yin Wei] said it wasn’t possible for him to visit his hometown owing to the flight cancellation and also requested that he be granted his leave of 30 days for visiting his country whenever the flight operations resume,” the release added.
SAI further added that coach Wei is currently staying at the SAI Kolkata centre.
It was earlier reported that the coach and his family had left for China late last month on a special flight arranged by the Chinese Embassy as part of Beijing’s efforts to repatriate its citizens who want to return home.
Media reports had said that it is doubtful that coach Wei will be available for the national camp proposed to be held by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) in Bengaluru next month.