Asian Games 2023: Olympic Council of Asia says visas issued to Indian wushu athletes

A senior official of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) claimed that three Indian wushu athletes - Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu - were issued visas for the extravaganza in Hangzhou. The diplomatic kerfuffle has seen Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancel his trip to Beijing after the athletes from Arunachal Pradesh were denied accreditation, which also works as visa. China labels Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet” in their official briefings. Wei Jizhong, chairman of OCA’s ethics committee, who is from China, claimed the “Indian athletes have been granted the visa to enter China.” “These Indian athletes have already got the visa to enter China. China didn’t refuse any visa. The problem is according to Chinese govt regulations, we have the right to give them different kind of visas. We have an arrival visa, we have a paper visa, and we have a passport as visa,” Jizhong said. “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,” Jizhong added. Asked about the trio at a regular foreign ministry briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning said: “China welcomes athletes from all countries with legal documents to come to Hangzhou and take part in the Asian Games. “The Chinese government does not recognise the so-called Arunachal region that you mentioned. South Tibet is part of China.” OCA acting president Randhir Singh said they’re actively pursuing with the Chinese authorities the issue of denial of accreditation. “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,” veteran administrator Randhir said in a press conference. “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.” “This has been brought to our notice yesterday, and we are taking up this matter with the Organising Committee and we are trying to find a solution. We will then inform you about it. We are on it now,” said Vinod Tiwari, the OCA’s acting director general. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, on Friday, said, “A strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China’s deliberate and selective obstruction of some of our sportsperson.” “Further, as a mark of our protest against the Chinese action, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports of India, Anurag Thakur, has cancelled his scheduled visit to China for the Games. Government of India reserves the right to take suitable measures to safeguard our interests,” the MEA spokesperson said. Bagchi further added, “India firmly reject differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity.” “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,” Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, said. In July, the Indian wushu team did not travel to Chengdu for the World University Games after the same three athletes were issued stapled, rather than pasted, visas – an indication that Beijing does not recognise India’s territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh. The move triggered angry reactions in New Delhi, with the foreign ministry saying it was “unacceptable”. “The problem is, according to Chinese government regulations, we have the right to give them different kinds of visa. We have arrival visa, we have a paper visa… these are government regulations,” said Wei. “But I make it very clear: the Chinese government gave them a visa, they can enter China. But unfortunately these athletes didn’t accept the visa.” The rest of the 10-member India wushu squad, along with coaching staff, reportedly left on Wednesday via Hong Kong. The event gets underway on 24 September. (with inputs by AFP)