Pakistan is not sending a team to India for the Asian Fencing Championship

Flags of India and Pakistan (PTI Photo) Pakistan will not send its fencing team to the Asian Senior Fencing Championship in New Delhi later this month despite receiving an official invitation from the organisers. India is hosting the continental event for the first time, with athletes from more than 30 countries across Asia and Oceania expected to compete at the Bharat Mandapam from June 19.According to Fencing Association of India (FAI) general secretary Rajeev Mehta, invitations were sent to both Pakistan and Afghanistan, but neither country registered participants before the deadline. The decision comes even as India clarified that athletes from Pakistan will be allowed to participate in multilateral events despite the continued ban on bilateral sports ties. “We have sent an invitation to Pakistan and also Afghanistan to participate in the championship but they have decided not to send their fencers. The deadline for sending applications is long past and now we are in the process of getting visas for athletes and officials,” Mehta said, according to PTI.The championship will also feature the Asian Fencing Confederation General Assembly, the body’s first top management meeting in India. International Fencing Federation Interim President Abdelmoneim El Husseiny is also expected to attend.While preparations are largely on track, some participating countries have faced visa-related hurdles. More than 200 athletes and official visas were approved later Thursday, but problems remain for several delegations.“Preparations for the championship are proceeding smoothly, coordination is going on with international and national bodies to ensure world-class event management and athlete experience,” Mehta said.He added that Hong Kong officials were having difficulty securing visas, while some Australian visa applications had been rejected. The authorities are working to resolve the issues before the competition starts.