Wrestling Championship 2022: Due to visa denials by the Spanish embassy, 21 Indian wrestlers will not be able to compete in the upcoming Under-23 World Championships in Pontevedra. The wrestlers’ refusal was based on the assumption that they wouldn’t leave the country before their visas expired.
Only nine of the 30-member team selected by the Indian Wrestling Federation for the Under-23 Championship could go. One among those turned away was India’s first-ever under-20 female world champion, Antim Panghal. Only six of the nine coaches who requested for visas received them.
Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of the WFI, expressed his outrage at the decision and said that their visas were refused on petty reasons. “This is something we have never faced before. Despite presenting the Indian government’s clearance and an invitation from the world governing body UWW, our wrestlers have been denied visas on the most frivolous ground,” said Tomar.
The assistant secretary expressed confusion about the authorities’ assumptions that the wrestlers and coaches wouldn’t return to India. “We got the rejection letters this evening (Monday) after we made a request to release the passports as soon as possible. This is really bizarre. I really don’t know how the officer came to the conclusion that wrestlers and coaches won’t come back to India,” Tomar added.
It’s a shame for Spain – Mahabir Prasad
“Our wrestlers are strong medal contenders, they have denied them the opportunity to shine on the big stage,” said Tomar. Mahabir Prasad, the head coach of the Greco-Roman team and recipient of the Dronacharya award, demanded that Spain be barred from the Asian Championship in 2019 when United World Wrestling requested that India let Pakistani wrestlers to compete.
“Spain should be fined and banned. It has already created a huge issue at the Championship. It’s a matter of shame for Spain as a country. Our wrestlers lost just an opportunity but Spain has lost face. UWW had said it would ban India if Pakistan were to deny entry for Asian championship in New Delhi. Now that was at Asian level and now this is at the world level. We will see what UWW does now,” said Prasad.
Today marked the beginning of the Under-23 Wrestling World Championship, which will last through October 23.
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