Kosovo boxer set to miss Women’s World Championships due to visa issues
New Delhi. Losing all hope of getting an Indian visa to take part in the Women’s Boxing World Championship in India, Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku has questioned the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to award the hosting rights of the tournament to India. There is uncertainty over Sadiku’s participation in the prestigious IBA competition as the Indian government is yet to grant him a visa. India does not recognize Kosovo, a disputed region in South Eastern Europe.
Sadiku said Kosovo’s sports ministry is trying to contact the Indian government but it looks like they will have to pull out of the prestigious tournament again. Sadiku said, “I have not yet received any response from India. The Indian Boxing Federation has approved my participation in the World Boxing Championships and the IBA said there would be no problem, but the Government of India and the Ministry of External Affairs are yet to respond to my visa application.
“Our sports ministry is trying to contact him, but we have lost hope. We have plane tickets for tomorrow (Monday) and so far we have not received any response.” This is not the first time Sadiku has faced such a situation.
The boxer, a bronze medalist in the lightweight category at the World Championships 2022, was denied an Indian visa on two earlier occasions. Due to this, she could not participate in the 2018 Women’s World Championships in Delhi and the Youth Women’s World Boxing Championships in Guwahati.
“I don’t know why the IBA handed over the hosting rights to India when it knew that India had denied me a visa in the past as well,” Sadiku said. This is the third time while the Government of India is not allowing me to participate in the World Boxing Championship. I am very disappointed because I had trained hard and I was very motivated to win a medal in India.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but India does not recognize it as a country. When BFI was asked to react in this matter, its president Ajay Singh said, “It does not come under the jurisdiction of the Boxing Federation of India.” It is the prerogative of the Government of India, it is up to them to grant visa or not. We contacted him. The government has to decide on this.
