India's archers, fresh off their medal-winning performances at the Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka, Bangladesh, faced an unexpected ordeal on their journey home. A canceled flight led to a night of discomfort and anxiety, exposing the athletes to substandard conditions and raising concerns about their safety and well-being.

The 23-member squad, including two minors, found themselves stranded at Dhaka airport for nearly ten hours due to repeated flight delays and a lack of support from the airline. According to reports, the athletes were left with little information or assistance as their departure time was repeatedly pushed back.

The situation escalated when the flight was finally canceled. Passengers were informed that no alternative flight would be arranged for the night. Stepping out of the airport, the Indian archers were ushered onto a "window-less local bus" and transported half an hour away to what multiple sources described as a "makeshift lodge" resembling a 'dharamshala' – a charitable rest house.

Abhishek Verma, a decorated compound archer, voiced strong criticism of the accommodation. He described it as "not even a proper hotel" but a cramped dormitory. Verma stated that the women were placed in a room with six double beds, and the entire team had access to only one filthy toilet. He added that the conditions were so unhygienic that he doubted anyone could bring themselves to take a bath there.

Further exacerbating the situation, the team's journey from the airport to the lodge took them through areas of Dhaka that had been affected by "riots," raising safety concerns. The lack of security during this transit added to the athletes' distress. Verma questioned what would have happened if something had occurred during the bus ride, especially considering the presence of teenage girls in the squad.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the Indian archers displayed remarkable resilience throughout the Asian Archery Championships. Jyothi Surekha Vennam led the charge, securing gold medals in both the individual and team events in the compound section. The compound mixed team of Abhishek Verma and Deepshikha also clinched a gold medal, defeating Bangladesh in the final. Overall, India's compound archers secured an impressive five medals at the championships. In other events, the recurve mixed team reached the bronze medal playoff.

The incident has prompted questions about the arrangements made for the athletes' travel and accommodation, as well as the level of support provided by the airline and relevant authorities. While the archers' on-field performance was commendable, their off-field experience has cast a shadow over their achievements.