Despite coronavirus scare, Chinese wrestlers will get visas for Delhi meet

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5

The Union Government has assured the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) of all help for the smooth conduct of the Asian Championships, to be held here later this month.

In view of the coronavirus threat, the Indian government has cancelled valid visas to Chinese nationals and people who have visited China in the last two weeks. The e-visa facility has also been suspended for Chinese travellers. Like the Chinese wrestlers, the Pakistani contingent comprising five wrestlers is yet to receive travel documents to participate in the tournament, to be held on February 18-23.

Not giving visas to Chinese wrestlers, or any other foreign wrestlers, could have led to sanctions by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling.

WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said he has been assured that no wrestler/coaching staff would be barred from entering India.

“I met the foreign minister (S Jaishankar) today and I think there will be no problem in regards to getting visas for both the countries (China and Pakistan),” Singh said. Singh added that China’s wrestling association officials have given WFI the assurance that all their wrestlers have tested negative for coronavirus. “They have told us that the entire team has been put in quarantine. Also, they will be screened before entering our country,” Singh added. “So nobody can say ‘we will not play against the Chinese’ if they clear all the tests, both in China and in our country.”

We’ll go by Oly charter: Rijiju

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju too put to rest doubts about the participation of wrestlers from China and Pakistan. “Coronavirus is a health issue and the Health Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs are taking care of it. It is a worry but we have to host international events,” Rijiju said. When probed about the delay in handing out the visas to wrestlers from China and Pakistan, Rijiju said: “We we will abide by the Olympic charter.”

In 2019, IOC had directed all affiliated federations to suspend international competitions in India after two Pakistani shooters were denied visas for the ISSF World Cup amidst growing border tensions.

China’s anti-doping agency halts testing

LAUSANNE: China’s state anti-doping agency (CHINADA) “temporarily” suspended testing on February 3 less than six months before the Tokyo Olympics in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the International Testing Agency (ITA) said. “The situation is one of caution so as not to endanger athletes or test officials and while recognising the importance of anti-doping activities, the priorities are to maintain public health for all,” said the ITA. — AFP

Decision on Wuhan Oly qualifier soon

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also the vice-president of Asian body, confirmed that the decision to shift the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifier from Wuhan in China is expected soon. United World Wrestling Asia president Daulet Turlykhanov had sought views from all its affiliates and executive members about shifting out the tournament from the city where the coronavirus originated.”The decision will happen soon, it may come in the next 10 days,” Singh said.