3 min readBhubaneswarDec 24, 2025 10:47 AM IST
First published on: Dec 24, 2025 at 08:35 AM IST
At least 18 school students who represented Odisha in the 69th National School Games Wrestling Championship at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month had to travel sitting on the floor near the train toilet with their luggage as their tickets could not be confirmed by the authorities, triggering allegations of “mismanagement”.
The athletes, including eight girls, who participated in the national event from December 7 to 12, travelled in such conditions for hours during both their onward and return journeys, with multiple video clips showing them sitting on their luggage with their heads covered to protect themselves from the cold sparking outrage.
According to officials, the athletes and four officials travelled from Bhubaneswar to Ballia by Neelachal Express on December 6 without confirmed tickets. Their return journey, scheduled on December 12 by Nandankanan Express, also took place without confirmed tickets.
“We tried hard to get the tickets confirmed or to manage at least seats by requesting the TTE so that the athletes can travel by sitting, but we failed to do so. After they failed to get seats, they travelled by sitting on the floor near the toilet,” said an official who accompanied the athletes.
After travelling for hours in deplorable conditions, a request to the TTE helped them get 10 seats at Hijli in West Bengal, the official said.
An athlete, without wishing to be named, alleged mismanagement by the authorities for their journey.
“How can the authorities expect us to perform well when they can’t even ensure basic things. We had to travel in very undignified ways. The area near the toilet was stinking. We had to move with our luggage every time the train stopped at a station for people to get off or board. We couldn’t concentrate on the games,” said the athlete.
After facing backlash, the School and Mass Education Department has called for a detailed report from the Director of Secondary Education over the “mismanagement”.
In an official statement, the department clarified that tickets for 18 young wrestlers and four teachers were booked in a 3-tier air-conditioned coach on November 20 to travel to Ballia and back to Bhubaneswar.
“Despite sincere efforts by the department, tickets could not be confirmed. In order to ensure that the young wrestlers were not deprived of participating in the national-level championship and to provide them an opportunity to showcase their talent, they were taken to Ballia, UP,” read the statement.
The athletes, including eight girls, participated in the national event from December 7 to 12. (Image: Video grab) 
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