The United States has refused visas to nine Indian wrestlers ahead of the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. The Wrestling Federation of India has said the athletes were reportedly turned down because they are below 20 years of age and did not have formal employment.
The wrestlers, who are due to compete at the U23 World Championships from October 12 to 18, were verbally informed about the visa refusals when they appeared for their appointments at the US Embassy in New Delhi on Wednesday, October 7. Their passports were returned to them after the interviews.
FORMER WORLD CHAMPION REFUSED VISA
Among those whose visa applications were refused is Neha Sangwan, the 2024 U17 World Champion. The WFI has now urged the US Embassy to reconsider the cases and has also raised concerns about wrestlers who are scheduled to appear for their visa appointments on Thursday.
According to a letter sent by the WFI to the US Embassy, 24 members of the Indian contingent appeared for their visa appointments on Wednesday, including 16 wrestlers. Nine of the wrestlers were refused visas.
“Today, 24 participants appeared at the Embassy for their visa appointments, out of which 16 were wrestlers. Unfortunately, 09 wrestlers were refused visas, reportedly due to their employment status and are below 20 years of age,” the WFI said in its letter.
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The U23 World Championships are meant for wrestlers aged between 18 and 23, and the WFI has pointed out that several members of the Indian team are still in the early stages of their sporting careers.
WFI SEEKS CLARITY FROM US EMBASSY
The WFI said many of the young wrestlers are not formally employed because they are still pursuing their sporting careers and asked the US Embassy to reconsider the refused applications.
“Accordingly, many of these young athletes are understandably still pursuing their sporting careers and are not formally employed,” the federation said.
The nine wrestlers named in the WFI’s communication are Samarth Gajanan Mhakave, Dheeraj Kumar Malik, Sachin Kumar, Nikhil, Hardeep, Parveen, Ahilya Shatrughn Shinde, Neha Sharma and Neha Sangwan.
The WFI has also sought reconsideration for the wrestlers who are yet to attend their visa appointments.
The federation said it was “deeply concerned” about the remaining members of the team who are scheduled to appear at the Embassy on Thursday, pointing out that most of them are also below 20 years of age and currently unemployed.
“We are deeply concerned about the remaining wrestlers who are scheduled to appear for their visa appointments tomorrow, as most of them are also currently unemployed and below 20 years of age,” the WFI said.
INDIA’S PARTICIPATION IN DOUBT
The visa refusals have left India’s participation in the U23 World Wrestling Championships under a cloud, with the WFI now hoping that the US Embassy will reconsider the applications and allow the affected wrestlers to travel to Las Vegas for the competition.
The U23 World Wrestling Championships are scheduled to be held in Las Vegas from October 12 to 18.
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