Top Indian Athletes Thrown Off Train by TTE in Mumbai: 5 Key Points on the Shocking Incident

In a shocking incident at Panvel Railway Station, Mumbai, two of India’s top pole vault athletes, Dev Meena and Kuldeep Yadav, were forcibly removed from a train despite carrying sports equipment worth lakhs of rupees. The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media.

1. Incident at Panvel Station
The athletes were returning from the All India Inter-University Athletics Championship in Bengaluru to Bhopal when the traveling ticket examiner (TTE) objected to them carrying their pole vault poles on the train. The equipment, each pole worth nearly ₹5 lakh and about 5 meters long, is as essential to a pole vaulter as a bat is to a cricketer or a racket to a badminton player.

2. TTE Refused Luggage Fine
The TTE declared the poles “unauthorized luggage” and ordered the athletes to disembark. Despite offering to pay the fine and requesting to speak to senior railway officials, their appeals were rejected, leaving them stranded at the station for 4–5 hours.

3. Athletes Speak Out
Dev Meena, a national record holder with a 5.40-meter jump, expressed his frustration: “If this can happen to international athletes, what hope do junior players have? Everyone expects us to qualify for the Asian Games, yet we are forced to deal with such issues during travel.” Kuldeep Yadav added that while they were willing to pay, adequate space for their equipment should have been provided.

4. Delay Caused Missed Connections
Because of the forced wait, both athletes missed their connecting train. They were only able to secure seats on another train after paying the luggage fine, with the TTE warning that any passenger complaint about their poles could result in them being removed again.

5. Broader Implications
This incident highlights the lack of proper support and respect for athletes outside cricket, despite government initiatives to promote sports. Social media users and sports enthusiasts have criticized the railway authorities for their handling of internationally recognized athletes.