The Indian U17 wrestling team, comprising 47 members including 30 athletes, faces the risk of missing the U17 World Championship in Athens, starting July 28, due to visa delays by the Greece Embassy. With the contingent scheduled to depart on Saturday, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is yet to secure visa appointments despite applying on July 10, prompting urgent appeals to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Home Ministry on July 16.
WFI President Sanjay Singh expressed frustration, stating, “The athletes are ready, tickets are booked, but the embassy’s silence is inexplicable. These young wrestlers, including Asian gold medalists like Rachna Parmar (43kg), Moni (57kg), Ashvini Vaishno (65kg), and Manisha (69kg), deserve this global platform.” A WFI official noted past efficiency, citing a four-day visa issuance by Greece and a one-day Schengen visa from Hungary for wrestler Harshita, questioning the current delay.
United World Wrestling (UWW) President Nenad Lalovic intervened, writing to the Hellenic Olympic Committee on July 20 to expedite visas for the Indian and Iranian teams. The Greece Embassy’s website cites a 15-day processing time, extendable for applications routed through non-Delhi centers, adding at least five days. Posts on X, including from @thenewsdrum, highlight public concern over the delay, with fears it could jeopardize India’s medal prospects, following their 10-medal haul (5 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze) at the 2024 U17 Championship in Amman.
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The WFI, recalling a 2022 incident where 21 Indian wrestlers were denied visas by Spain for the U23 Championship, is pushing for swift resolution to ensure the team, selected via trials on July 7-8 in Delhi and Lucknow, can compete.
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