Former World No. 1 badminton player and Olympic medalist Nozomi Okuhara of Japan recently shared a harrowing experience she faced upon arrival in India for the Odisha Open Super 100 tournament. In a post on the Japanese website fansnet.jp, Okuhara described how she was taken advantage of by a taxi driver who charged her an exorbitant fare, more than ten times the usual rate.
Okuhara recounted how she landed in Delhi and hired a private cab to her accommodation. The driver initially quoted a reasonable fare, but upon reaching the destination, he demanded a significantly inflated amount. Feeling intimidated, Okuhara reluctantly paid the inflated fare.
According to Okuhara’s account, the incident unfolded upon her arrival at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. After disembarking from her flight, she opted for a private taxi service to reach her destination. Unfortunately, the driver took advantage of her unfamiliarity with the local transportation system and charged her an exorbitant amount.
“I got scared and stopped, but he said something along the lines of ‘I’ll take it to the entrance,'” Okuhara wrote in her post. “Feeling uneasy, I continued to the entrance,” she continued, describing her discomfort throughout the journey.
This incident has sparked outrage among badminton fans and the sporting community, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of international athletes traveling to India. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has issued a formal apology to Okuhara and vowed to take steps to prevent such incidents from happening again.
“It is unfortunate that Ms. Okuhara had to face such a situation,” said Sanjay Mishra, the secretary of the BAI. “We are deeply concerned about her experience and have offered her our full support. We are also taking steps to improve travel arrangements for all international athletes coming to India for tournaments.”
The BAI has assured that they are working with local authorities to ensure the safety and comfort of all participants in future tournaments. This includes providing clear guidelines on taxi fares and transportation services, as well as setting up helplines and assistance desks for athletes.
Okuhara’s experience highlights the importance of ensuring safe and ethical travel conditions for international athletes participating in events worldwide. While this incident is undoubtedly regrettable, the swift response and apology from the BAI demonstrate a commitment to addressing the issue and improving the experience for future athletes.
It remains to be seen what steps the BAI will take to prevent similar incidents from occurring. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the need for increased vigilance and stricter regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of international athletes traveling to India for sporting.
