NEW DELHI: Even as 17 countries have confirmed their participation for the upcoming 2018 Asian Junior Wrestling Championships, scheduled to be held here from July 17-22, a cloud hangs over the event going ahead due to a familiar problem in India when it comes to hosting international sports events.
The vexed matter of the Indian government dragging its feet on issuing visas to teams representing arch enemy Pakistan.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday was categorical in his criticism of the government’s handling of the issue with only a week to go for the event.
Singh, also an MP, informed the media that the WFI runs the risk of losing the hosting rights for the championships if the Pakistani grapplers are not allowed to compete in the event.
“If Pakistani contingent are now allowed to compete and denied visa, the UWW (world body) may ban us and take away the event from India. It’s Pakistan’s right to compete at the event,” PTI quotes Singh as telling reporters.
The WFI president said they had begun the process of getting various clearances four months ago but a ‘few officials’ do not understand the ‘seriousness’ of the issue.
“Usually the process begins two months from the event but we began it four months back. But a few officials do not understand that it is a serious matter. The United World Wrestling can take action against us. They can ban us, bar us from competing in Olympics.
“This is not a bilateral event, it’s an Asian Championship. Tournaments are allotted only after the host can assure participation for all interested teams. Pakistan’s participation is not at our mercy, it is its right to participate. Their participation is our responsibility. We have complained about this earlier also and honestly, everyone including the teams, federations and UWW are fed up of this,” he stated.
“Pakistan has already complained to the international body before and now also. The UWW can take action against us, maybe even disaffiliate WFI and not allow us participation in major events. The delay hurts us also but people who are in charge of these clearances do not understand the seriousness of the issue. The normal process takes around two months but we had sent our detailed proposal back in February itself. And yet here we are, waiting for the files to move,” he complained.
Singh also informed that only a boys’ team from Pakistan will come for the competition, scheduled to be held here from July 17 to 23 at KD Jadhav stadium.
“The teams want to arrive early to practice. We told them to at least clear the other teams if Pakistan and Afghanistan are an issue. I will be meeting the Home Minister tomorrow (Wednesday), hopefully I will be able to explain things and sort out the matter,” Singh said.
By Tuesday evening, the ministry had cleared all but the teams from Pakistan and Afghanistan for the competition, Sportstar reports.
Teams from Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Japan, Korea, North Korea, Mongolia and Tajikistan would be participating in the competition with approximately 146 Freestyle, 117 Greco-Roman and 100 Women wrestlers vying for 10 gold and silver medals each and 20 bronze medals, the magazine reports.
Foreign teams require clearances from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Sports Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry before visas could be issued. Clearances from the Sports Ministry and External Affairs Ministry had been received much in advance, but the MHA remained unmoved.
The scenario is akin to the script that was played out recently for the World Junior Squash Championship, to be held in Chennai from July 17 to 29. The Pakistan were initially denied visas and only acceded after the World Squash Federation (WSF) got into the act.
This happened after the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) approached WSF and the Asian Squash Federation and asked them to cancel the event in India. The visasa were subsequently issued.
Related Report
World Junior Squash C’ship: India grant visas to Pak contingent
https://www.sportzpower.com/node/4166
