Airline carrier Air Asia penalised this Indian sports star for excess baggage which included his sports equipment as he was returning after winning an international trophy after beating Pakistan
How this airline treated a Indian sports star will leave you shocked!
PR Sreejesh
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Indian hockey team goalkeeper and captain PR Sreejesh is angry. Why? Shouldn't he be happy as punch for having lifted the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) after beating Pakistan 3-2 in the finals? Well, he should be, but he isn't. What's the reason?
It's airline carrier Air Asia, which penalised him for excess baggage which included his sports equipment as he was returning to India from Malaysia after winning the ACT by overcoming arch sub-continental hockey rivals Pakistan in the finals.
The 28-year-old national hero was fined Rs 1500 for carrying 'sports equipment' that was termed as excess baggage. An irate Sreejesh took to Twitter to express his disappointment.
"Extra charges for the sports equipment bag which come below 15 kg?? Are they expecting me to carry make up kit ??..funny concept @Air Asia," Sreejesh tweeted posting the a screenshot of the penalty receipt.
HERE'S SREEJESH'S TWEET:
Extra charges for the sports equipment bag which come below 15kg ??Are they expecting me to carry makeup kit?? ..funny concept @AirAsia pic.twitter.com/yrV8vVvCDk
— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) November 1, 2016
The star custodian's equipment is expected to be heavier than his teammates as goalkeepers have heavy protective gears which includes upper body protection, thick pads, gloves and a helmet unlike outfield players who need to carry just their hockey sticks and shin guards.
Sreejesh didn't play in the ACT final but was the star of the semis against South Korea. The semi-final was tied 2-2 and had gone into a penalty shootout. Sreejesh saved the deciding penalty from Lee Dae-Yeol to secure a place in the final for India, but got injured in the process.
Sreejesh, along with Nikkin Thimmaiah, arrived at the Bengaluru airport around 11.45 on Monday night from Kuala Lumpur after reclaiming the Asian Champions Trophy from two-time defending champions Pakistan.
India had won the inaugural edition five years ago. The 2011 final against Pakistan was the one where Sreejesh came into the spotlight for the first time by saving two penalties.
Sreejesh on Tuesday dedicated the Asian Championship Trophy triumph to the Indian soldiers martyred in the Uri attack and their families, saying it's a Diwali gift to those who lost their lives while safeguarding the country.
Air Asia has since responded to Sreejesh's tweet:
@16Sreejesh we have notified our team to get in touch with you at the earliest. Thank you!
— AirAsia India (@airasiain) November 1, 2016
Sreejesh's post on Twitter got a lot of response from Twitterati, who were also upset with the treatment meted out to him by the airlines.
HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:
@AirAsia doesn't know the weight of expectations @16Sreejesh has on his shoulders. Else they hv charged for that 'expectation Weight' too
— Vivek Aggarwal (@927vivek) November 1, 2016
@16Sreejesh @neerubhatia3 @AirAsia need to respect sports persons we should launch campaign to wAive fees for extra baggage of sportsperson
— Sunder Iyer (@siyer30) November 1, 2016
.@TheHockeyIndia why our champions flying low cost @AirAsia? Why are they not flying national carrier @airindiain? @16Sreejesh
— HImanshu (@imanshu_) November 1, 2016
@16Sreejesh this is really pathetic @AirAsia . Indian sportspersons deserve better not just from GOI but also businesses
— Anshul Gandhi (@sevakrum) November 1, 2016
@16Sreejesh @AirAsia if a person like sree receiving this kind of a welcome from AirAsia, what could be a common man, pathetic
— Shagin TK (@tkshagin) November 1, 2016
@16Sreejesh @AirAsia @RNTata2000 is this the way to treat our National heroes? Act of Shame by Air Asia!
— sanjeev kohli (@kohlisanjeev) November 1, 2016
@16Sreejesh @AirAsia At least should have some respect to our sports heroes...shameful act by the airlines.
— sreejith T CHANDRAN (@SrijithChandran) November 1, 2016