The Indian chess team faced an unexpected delay after arriving at Samarkand Airport in Uzbekistan ahead of the 46th Chess Olympiad. The players and support staff reportedly spent more than five hours waiting at the airport because their hotel rooms had not yet been arranged.
The team traveled to Uzbekistan to represent India at the prestigious international chess tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. However, instead of reaching their accommodation and preparing for the competition, the players were left waiting at the airport for several hours.
Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan expressed his frustration about the situation on social media. He said the team had already been waiting for around five hours and still had not received their rooms. He also indicated that the team had not been given a clear idea about when the accommodation would be ready.
Another Indian Grandmaster, Vidit Gujrathi, also reacted to the delay. He described the situation as a disappointing start to the tournament while the team continued to wait for the necessary arrangements.
The delay has created an uncomfortable situation for the Indian players just before an important international competition. Getting proper rest and preparation is particularly important for chess players, as the Olympiad involves long and demanding games.
The Indian team will now look to settle into their accommodation and focus on the tournament once the arrangements are completed. The Chess Olympiad brings together teams from around the world and is one of the biggest events on the international chess calendar.