Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is hoping for a favourable response from the US Embassy on the rejected visa applications of four women wrestlers ahead of the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, with their events scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The federation is banking on the two-day window before the women’s competition starts to secure clearance for Parveen (50kg), Ahilya Shatrughn Shinde (55kg), Neha Sharma (57kg) and Neha Sangwan (65kg). Their visa applications were rejected along with those of five Greco-Roman wrestlers, reportedly because they were below 20 years of age and unemployed.
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The championships begin on Monday, October 12, and run until October 18. The WFI is making efforts to ensure that the affected athletes get an opportunity to compete at the international event.
WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar said the federation remained hopeful that the embassy would reconsider its decision, particularly in the case of the women wrestlers.
“We are hopeful that the US Embassy will reconsider the decision, particularly in the case of our women wrestlers. They have prepared for this competition and we are making every possible effort to ensure that they get an opportunity to represent India at the World Championships,” Tomar told PTI.
WOMEN’S EVENTS AHEAD
The women’s competition is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, giving the federation a limited window to resolve the visa issue before the affected wrestlers are due to compete.
Neha Sangwan, who competes in the 65kg category, is among the wrestlers whose applications were rejected. The WFI is hoping that the embassy’s reconsideration will allow the four women to travel to Las Vegas in time for their respective events.
The six Indian women wrestlers who have received visas are Sweety (53kg), Komal (59kg), Vaishnavi Patil (65kg), Mansi Lather (68kg), Amruta Pujari (72kg) and Diksha Malik (76kg).
The visa refusals have created uncertainty for part of India’s contingent, with the federation continuing its efforts to secure clearance for the remaining affected athletes.
GRECO-ROMAN HIT
The five Greco-Roman wrestlers denied visas are Samarth Gajanan Mhakave, Dheeraj Kumar Malik, Sachin Kumar, Nikhil and Hardeep.
Their competition begins on Monday, with bouts scheduled in the 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg categories. The earlier start leaves the Greco-Roman wrestlers with less time to secure visa clearance before their events get underway.
All Indian men’s freestyle wrestlers have been issued visas, allowing them to travel for the championships.
The WFI is now hoping for a favourable decision on the pending cases, particularly those of the four women wrestlers, whose events begin two days after the championships open in Las Vegas.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
