Asian Games: Anurag Thakur cancels China tour after Beijing denies entry to 3 Arunachal athletes

The wushu event at the Asian Games is scheduled to take place from the f September 24 to 28

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on September 22 said Union sports minister Anurag Thakur will not visit China for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou after Chinese authorities denied accreditation and entry to some sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh. .

"Government of India has learnt that the Chinese authorities have, in a targeted and pre-meditated manner, discriminated against some of the Indian sportspersons from the state of Arunachal Pradesh by denying them accreditation and entry to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China,"  said  MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi

Three Indian Wushu players, all belonging to Arunachal Pradesh, were denied the clearance to travel to China for the ongoing Asian Games. They were forced to stay put in the national capital of New Delhi while the remaining athletes on the list boarded their flight to Hangzhou.

The three athletes Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu did receive their accreditation cards from Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) which also acts as an entry visa. "Once the athletes received the accreditation cards from the organising committee, it meant that they have been cleared to travel for the Asian Games. But surprisingly only these three players could not download their documents and they could not board the flight," an official told Hindustan Times.

The wushu event at the Asian Games is scheduled to take place from September 24 to 28. The Indian Wushu contingent comprises a total of 11 athletes.

According to News18, the contingent was booked to fly to Hangzhou through Hong Kong. However, they couldn’t receive clearance to travel beyond Hong Kong. The report stated that the trio have reached out to former sports minister Kiren Rijiju, who also hails from Arunachal Pradesh for a quick resolution.

Not the first time

According to reports, the same players could not compete at the World University Games in Chengdu, China (July 18-Aug 8) because they were given stapled visas. Stapled visas are meant to indicate that China doesn’t recognise India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh. The eight-member wushu team had then withdrawn from the event in Chengdu in protest.