While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been praising athletes who represented India at Rio Olympics, some players of the Indian women’s hockey team had to face humiliation as they were forced to sit on the floor of the train while returning home from Rio.

The hockey stars – Deep Grace Ekka, Namita Toppo, Lilima Minz and Sunita Lakra – had boarded the Dhanbad-Alleppey Express train from Ranchi to Rourkela on Saturday to return their hometown. But they were made to sit on the floor of the train from Ranchi to Rourkela because their tickets were unconfirmed.

“WE ASKED THE TTE TO ALLOT BERTHS TO US BUT HE DENIED. AFTER TRAVELLING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, WE GOT SEATS.”

As the tickets were not confirmed, the Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) asked them to sit on the floor of the train. Despite the players revealing their identity, he denied allotting them berths.

Since they did not have confirmed berths allotted to them, they were made to sit on the floor and travel, until they got seats. This shows a disparity in behaviour with our Olympians and how medal winners were awarded Khel Ratnas and BMWs and the ones who didn’t shine were left in such sorry states.

Nirmala Sawant, another activist, said, “I think this is very shameful for us as Indian citizens, and at the same time, Olympics participants bring pride to the nation..it is quite depressing, and I think, the Railway Minister (Suresh Prabhu) should take immediate action so that this kind of injustice is not caused to any sportsperson.”

Watch: Women’s Hockey team players made to sit on the floor of the train

Panposh Sundargarh sub-collector Himanshu Sekhar Behera was unhappy with this treatment and was quoted as saying, “We will draw the attention of the railways about the incident. They should have been provided seats. It is the responsibility of the department to take care of them.”

This difference in behaviour with our Olympians needs to change.