21 Indian wrestlers will not be able to participate in the World Championship due to the cancellation of visa
In a strange decision, the Spanish Embassy has denied visas to 21 Indian wrestlers who were to participate in the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Pontevedra. The national federation said on Monday that the visa application was rejected only because they suspect the players will not leave the country until the visa period expires. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had shortlisted a 30-member squad for the championship which began on Monday, but only nine players were granted visas.
Indian wrestlers who missed out on the championship include U-20 Women’s World Champion Last Panghal. Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of WFI, told PTI, “We have never faced this kind of situation before. Our wrestlers were not granted visas on petty grounds, despite showing the sanction letter from the Government of India and the invitation letter from UWW, the governing body of World Wrestling.
“We received the rejection letter this evening when we requested to return the passport at the earliest. This is really weird. It is really beyond our comprehension how the authorities came to the conclusion that Indian wrestlers and coaches would not return to India.” Of the 10 freestyle wrestlers, only Aman (57kg) got visas while the applications of nine others were rejected.
Interestingly, three freestyle coaches were given visas. Of the six Greco-Roman wrestlers and women, only Ankush (50kg) and Manasi (59kg) got visas. Tomar said, “Now how can we send three coaches for a wrestler, so we are sending Jagmandar Singh with peace. Six Greco-Roman wrestlers have already reached Spain and two female wrestlers left on Sunday.
