A media report on Indian para-athletes stranded in Berlin since the sports body didn't release money for them has caught the attention of Sports Minister Vijay Goel, who has sought details of the matter.
Ace shooter and India's lone Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra shared an article that appeared on the website of U.K.'s Daily Mail , which narrated the experience of Nagpur-based paralympic swimmer Kanchanmala Pande, who was in Berlin earlier this month to participate in Para Swimming Championships.
Pande won a silver in the S11 category, but she had to seek monetary help from others since the Sports Authority of India and Paralympic Committee of India didn't pay her expenses, the report said.
"I was not given any official confirmation if I will receive a reimbursement for the expense I bore. I had to pay around Rs 70,000 (£844) for the hotel and more than Rs 40,000 (£482) for food," the report quoted Pande as saying.
Bindra tweeted: "This is UNACCEPTABLE. People must be held accountable. (sic)" and tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Vijay Goel.
Mr. Goel promptly replied: "I've instructed my Ministry to verify the facts of this episode and then comment on the matter."
About 30 minutes later, Mr. Goel, in another tweet said: "I'm informed funds were released to Paralympic Committee by SAI on behalf of @YASMinistry . Trying to ascertain from PCI where problem lies."
Pande is the only woman swimmer from India to qualify for the World Para Swimming Championships to be held in Mexico.
