US-Israel war on Iran: Indian wrestlers stranded in Albania amid Middle East crisis
As many as 16 Indian wrestlers returning after the United World Wrestling ranking series have been stranded in Tirana, Albania, following the sudden airspace outage in most of the Middle East.
The issue comes as a consequence of the ongoing conflict between Israel, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has seen most of West Asia shutting down their airports.
But the Indian contingent in Tirana has reassured that they are safe and have been accommodated in a hotel near the airport.
“We had come to Tirana for the senior ranking series. But because of the strikes in Dubai, our flights were cancelled (connecting flights). As a result, we stayed back in Tirana, close to the airport. We currently have no issues here,” Manjeet Rani, the women’s team coach, said in a video message.
“We want to thank the Indian Government and the Wrestling Federation of India for taking care of us and supporting us.”
India won seven medals at the Ranking Series: one gold, three silver and as many bronze medals.
“They were supposed to land in Delhi today, but the flight got cancelled as it was through Dubai. Now they are trying to come through a new route,” the father of wrestler Neha, who landed a silver medal in the women’s 57kg category, said.
Chief women’s coach Virender Dahiya added that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was trying its best to arrange an alternative flight.
“We have no issues here (in Albania). I am sure the WFI is doing its best to get us back to India,” he said.
The wrestlers are among several Indian athletes affected by the crisis in the Middle East.
The men’s basketball team has been stationed in Doha, Qatar, awaiting its return to India after its FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifier against Lebanon was postponed, following rising tensions in West Asia.
Meanwhile, double Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu and her coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama have been stranded at the Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.
(with inputs from Y. B. Sarangi)
Published on Mar 02, 2026