With a mere three days to go for the Asian Wrestling Championships in New Delhi, uncertainty looms large over China’s participation. The Wrestling Federation of India is under immense pressure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) to ensure visas to the Chinese wrestlers. The visa process of the Chinese contingent is held up due to the Ministry of External Affairs’ decision to suspend e-visa process for the Chinese nationals in wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.
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A final answer is expected by Monday. If China is denied participation in the Asian Championships due to the Indian establishment’s failure to provide visas to the contingent, the IOA and the WFI may face serious consequences. Including a UWW prohibition from participation in the next month’s Asian Olympic Wrestling qualifiers and IOC sanctions on hosting any movement competitions.
The Chinese Wrestling Association (CWA) has reportedly assured the UWW and the WFI that all of its wrestlers and the accompanying delegates have been tested and quarantined and all of them are free from the Coronavirus.
WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar has told Wrestling TV that it is trying its best to resolve the issue. “We are trying our best to issue the visas to Chinese wrestlers at the earliest,” he said. As things stand, India needs to ponder over two immediate worries. Firstly, chances of facing sanctions by the UWW which could mean banning India from hosting any future Olympic discipline competitions.
The UWW in all probability can also bar India from participating in the Asian Olympic Wrestling qualifiers next month. The IOC had already once barred India from hosting any Olympic discipline international tournaments. After the Indian authorities had denied visas to the Pakistan shooters for the ISSF World Championships in New Delhi last year in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, the IOC had directed all its affiliated global sports confederations to not to consider any applications from India for hosting an international event.
The IOC suspension was lifted after the Government of India had confirmed in writing that visas will be issued to all international athletes, who will have to participate in international competitions in India.
UWW has reportedly sent an email to the WFI, instructing “athletes and all delegation members from Team China will be allowed on the territory for their participation in the event and that “should isolation be required for athletes and delegates from China ahead of the event. Wrestling facilities will be provided by the organisers for the time of such isolation.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistani wrestlers are likely to be granted visas after the Ministry of Home Affairs received clearances from the Indian security agencies on Friday.