Former Indian Hockey Player Stuck In US Urges Indian Authorities To Help Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

Ashok, based out of California, is suffering from health issues and was scheduled to fly out with Air India on April 20 but got stuck with the global travel ban. The Olympian has requested intervention of the sports minister Kiren Rijiju and also of the Indian embassy in San Francisco to help arrange medical aid and/or help to fly him back from the US.

Ashok Diwan (Twitter)

New Delhi: Ashok Diwan, former World Cup winner, Dronacharya awardee and Olympian has sought urgent help from Indian govt and the Indian Olympic Association to get out of US amidst this Covid-19 pandemic. Ashok, based out of California,  is suffering from health issues and was scheduled to fly out with Air India on April 20 but got stuck with the global travel ban. The Olympian has requested intervention of the sports minister Kiren Rijiju and also of the Indian embassy in San Francisco to help arrange medical aid and/or help to fly him back from the US. California has been amongst the worst hit cities in the US with rising cases of Corona Virus and Diwan has a history of blood pressure and was also briefly admitted to the hospital there in California. Diwan has sent an email to IOA president NK Batra and requested for help, who in turn has promised for best possible help on the matter. In his letter, the 65-year-old has stated that he had to attend hospital in emergency last week in California after getting diagnosed with high blood pressure.

"I am not feeling well these days, moreover I don't have any insurance here. As you know the medical costs are very high here," he wrote.

"I request a favour to forward this message to the Sports Minister and the External Minister for helping me here by instructing Indian Embassy at San Francisco to help me with a hospital for my check-up or if they can arrange earlier departure from San Francisco to India.

"Sir, kindly treat this urgent as I am really in bad health here," Diwan, who was one of the first three Dhyan Chand awardees, added. India is currently under a 21-day nationwide lockdown which will end on April 14 due to coronavirus outbreak which has claimed more than 160 lives in the country thus far. Till then, there's also a travel ban in the country, both within and outside. The Indian government has also made it clear that any decision to allow foreign flights to operate to India can be taken only once the current lockdown period ends on April 14 midnight.