Women tennis players feel awkward at airport

ISLAMABAD: The Bahrain-bound Pakistan women tennis team had to spend some anxious hours, waiting for clearance to board at the Islamabad Airport as they were told that the concerned travelling agent messed up with booking requirements.

The four-member team, comprising Sara Mansoor, Sarah Mehboob, Ushana Sohail and Mahin Aftab, was on their way to Bahrain to figure in the Fed Cup qualifying round in early hours Sunday when their travelling documents were found incomplete. The team members that did not have any male official with them were refused boarding.

The airport authorities told the team members that the computer system did not show OK to board stamps on their visas and no one checked it when tickets were forwarded to players.No Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) official was available to respond in the odd hours.

After facing hours of ordeal, one of the players’ family members used his connections, enabling the girls board the plane minutes before gates were closed for departure.“Yes, I admit it was a blunder on the part of travelling agent and later by the PTF officials who did not check it prior to handing over the tickets to players. The matter will be investigated,” one of the PTD officials when contacted said.