The WFI hopes the US will clear visas for the four female wrestlers before the U23 World Championships

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is hoping for a favorable response from the US Embassy to the rejected visa applications of four female wrestlers ahead of the World Under-23 Wrestling Championship in Las Vegas, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

The federation is banking on a two-day window before the women’s competition begins to secure clearances for Parveen (50kg), Ahilya Shatrughn Shinde (55kg), Neha Sharma (57kg) and Neha Sangwan (65kg). Their visa applications were rejected along with those of five Greco-Roman wrestlers, allegedly because they were under 20 years old and unemployed.

The championship starts on Monday, October 12th and will run until October 18th. The WFI strives to ensure that disabled athletes are given the opportunity to compete at an international event.

WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar said the federation remains hopeful that the embassy will reconsider its decision, especially in the case of female wrestlers.

“We hope the US embassy will reconsider the decision, especially in the case of our women wrestlers. They have prepared for this competition and we are making all possible efforts to ensure that they get an opportunity to represent India at the World Cup,” Tomar told PTI.

WOMEN’S EVENTS WAITING

The women’s competition is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, giving the federation a limited window to resolve the visa issue before the affected wrestlers compete.

Neha Sangwan, who competes in the 65 kg category, is among the wrestlers whose applications were rejected. WFI hopes the embassy’s reconsideration will allow the four women to travel to Las Vegas in time for their respective events.

The six Indian wrestlers who received visas are Sweety (53 kg), Komal (59 kg), Vaishnavi Patil (65 kg), Mansi Lather (68 kg), Amruta Pujari (72 kg) and Diksha Malik (76 kg).

The visa rejection has created uncertainty for some of the Indian contingent, with the federation continuing its efforts to secure clearances for the remaining affected athletes.

GRECO-ROMAN HIT

The five Greco-Roman wrestlers who were denied visas are Samarth Gajanan Mhakave, Dheeraj Kumar Malik, Sachin Kumar, Nikhil and Hardeep.

Their competition begins on Monday, with matches scheduled in the 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg and 97 kg categories. The earlier start leaves less time for Greco-Roman wrestlers to secure their visas before their events get underway.

All Indian freestyle wrestlers have been granted visas allowing them to travel to the championships.

The WFI is now hoping for a favorable ruling on the pending cases, particularly those of the four wrestlers whose actions begin two days after the championships begin in Las Vegas.

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