Asian Games: China Denied Visa To Athletes From Arunachal Pradesh (Image: twitter.com/ChownaMeinBJP)
India on Friday expressed strong protest as China denied visas to three wushu players who are supposed to participate in the 19th Asian Games in China”s Hangzhou.
The players Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu, are the natives of Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian North Eastern state, which is a constant flashpoint between India and China bilateral relations. The region is claimed almost in full by Beijing as “South Tibet”.
“In line with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India”, India expressed protest through an official statement, on Friday.
“I strongly condemn this act by China to deny visas to our Wushu Athletes from Arunachal Pradesh who were to participate in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou”, said the Cabinet Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju. Mr Rijiju is also an MP from Arunachal Pradesh.
The three wushu players were unable to travel to Hangzhou in China for the Asian Games, as they were refused to provide the clearance documents by the Chinese authorities. They have already received their accreditation cards, which acts as the entry visa, from Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC), but failed to download their travel document which is validated upon arrival, reported the Hindustan Times.
“A strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China”s deliberate and selective obstruction of some of our sportspersons. China’s action violates both the spirit of the Asian Games and the rules governing their conduct, which explicitly prohibits discrimination against competitors from member states”, reads the official statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Our response to media queries on some Indian sportspersons being denied entry into 19th Asian Games:https://t.co/wtoQA8zaDH pic.twitter.com/cACRspcQkD
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 22, 2023
“This violates both the spirit of Sports & also the Rules governing the conduct of Asian Games, which explicitly prohibits discrimination against competitors from member states”, wrote Kiren Rijiju on X (formerly Twitter).
“Arunachal Pradesh is not a disputed territory but inalienable part of India. Entire people of Arunachal Pradesh resolutely oppose any illegal claim of China on it”s land and people”, said the Minister adding that the “International Olympic Committee should reign in China”s illegitimate action”.
I strongly condemn this act by China to deny visas to our Wushu Athletes from Arunachal Pradesh who were to participate in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. This violates both the spirit of Sports & also the Rules governing the conduct of Asian Games, which explicitly prohibits…
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 22, 2023
The Olympic Council of Asia responded to the Indian concern and informed that they are working on the matters to sort it out soon. “We had a meeting yesterday with the Working Group as well and this has been taken up in the Working Group meeting. They are taking it up with the Government and we are also taking it up with the Government”, said Olympic Council Of Asia”s acting president Randhir Singh to media.
“It is under discussion with us as well. This is outside of what the Government to Government is happening. We are from the OCA side of it. We are doing it”, he added.
#WATCH | Hangzhou, China | On three Indian Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh being denied entry into China for Hangzhou Asian Games, Olympic Council Of Asia”s acting president Randhir Singh says, “We had a meeting yesterday with the Working Group as well and this has been… pic.twitter.com/ZauMM4WSek
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023
In contrast, Wei Jizhong, Chairman of OCA”s Ethics Committee claimed that the “Indian athletes have been granted the visa to enter China. China didn”t refuse any visa. Unfortunately, these athletes didn”t accept this visa”.
“I don”t think this is OCA problem because China has an agreement to let all the athletes who have certified eligibility to come to compete in China. This is clear. The visa has already been granted”, he added.
19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China | Wei Jizhong, Chairman of OCA”s Ethics Committee claims “Indian athletes have been granted the visa to enter China .”
He adds,” These Indian athletes have got already the visa to enter China. China didn”t refuse any visa. Unfortunately, these… pic.twitter.com/RtmETYv3l3
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023
Earlier this year, China renamed 11 places in the disputed region. However New Delhi consistently maintains that the state has always been, and will always be, an “integral and inalienable part of India”, says the Mint.
Wushu, or Kung fu, is a hard and soft and complete martial art, as well as a full-contact combat sport. It has a long history in reference to Chinese martial arts.
Read Also
