The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has officially voiced its concerns to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) over the denial of visas to three Indian Wushu athletes for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. IOA joint secretary, Kalyan Chaubey, expressed the organization's strong objection to this exclusion in a conversation with India Today.
"We have taken a serious note of the issue. This is a sensitive issue involving the Indian contingent and the two countries," Kalyan Chaubey said.
Insiders reveal that the IOA had even considered boycotting the opening ceremony in response to this. Nevertheless, India made a mark at the vibrant opening event in Hangzhou, with Harmanpreet Singh and Lovlina Borgohain proudly fronting the Indian delegation during the Parade of Nations.
Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu, the three Wushu competitors from Arunachal Pradesh, were not granted entry to China. While the rest of the Wushu team, encompassing seven additional players and their accompanying staff, took a flight from Hong Kong to Hangzhou on September 22, these three athletes faced barriers. It's noteworthy that one of these players had already secured accreditation, while the other two awaited theirs. However, as the team departed for China on September 20, these players were stopped from boarding due to clearance issues.
Following this, the trio was relocated to the Sports Authority of India hostel situated at the JLN Stadium in New Delhi. This visa denial has garnered significant attention and raised concerns in the sports community.
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