SAI asks NSFs for Asiad-bound Arunachal, Ladakh athletes.

CHENNAI: The government has been wary following the withdrawal of the wushu team from the World University Games in China after the Chinese Embassy awarded stapled visas to three athletes from Arunachal Pradesh. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has requested information from national sports federations regarding the athletes chosen from Arunachal and Ladakh for the quadrennial event in an effort to prevent a repeat of the incident at the Asian Games, which are also slated to take place in China. The Indian team for the Asian Games also includes three wushu players who received stapled visas.

This newspaper was informed by a source in the know that “the SAI has asked all NSFs to provide details of athletes, if any, hailing from Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, who have been selected for the Asian Games.” The insider acknowledged that the athletes might not experience the problem at the Asian Games but insisted that the preventive measure had been done. The source continued, “Usually, the problem doesn’t come up at the Olympics and the Asian Games since athletes obtain accreditation and this shields them from the difficulties.

Due to territorial tensions, China has long refused stamping visas for Indian sportsmen from Arunachal Pradesh. The athletes from the Union Territory struggle with the border issue in Ladakh.

Along with wushu athletes, karate athletes and an Arunachal Pradesh skateboarder have been chosen for their respective teams at the Asian Games. “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to inform them of the problem. To avoid last-minute issues, the IOA is expected to raise the matter with its international counterpart after the NSFs provide the necessary information. If the necessity arises, it can be done today because it has been done in the past, according to the source.