NB Explains | 3 Wushu players from Arunachal denied entry to China for Asian Games; Here's how India RESPONDED!
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New Delhi, Sept 22: In a shocking development, three Indian Wushu players Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu have been denied entry to China to compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games. As a mark of protest, Indian Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has cancelled his visit to China for the Asian Games.
Why the entry of Wushu players from Arunachal denied?
As the Wushu event of Asian Game will begin on Sunday, the trio were approved to take part by the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 Organising Committee. Two of the athletes were unable to download their accreditation cards - which act as visas to enter China. The third athlete from Arunachal who got her accreditation card was informed that she would not be permitted to travel beyond Hong Kong.
With the trio needing to be in Hangzhou by September 24 the delay in Visa has resulted in them being forced out of the Asian Games. The rest of the Wushu squad has left for China. The three Arunachal athletes were to take part in individual events of the martial arts sport.
The Interim President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Randhir Singh in a press conference said that they are taking up the matter to the Chinese government.
"We had a meeting yesterday with the working group as well and this has been taken up in the meeting. They are taking it up with the Chinese government and we are also taking it up with the government. It is under discussion with us. We are from the OCA side," OCA acting President Randhir Singh said in a press conference.
What is China responding?
However, the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) vice president Wei Jizhong claimed that China has already granted Visas to Indian athletes which the players had not accepted.
"We have an arrival visa, we have a paper visa. We have a Visa in passport. This is the host country's governmental regulations. So, I make it very clear that the Chinese government gave these Indian Athletes a Visa to enter China but unfortunately, these athletes did not accept this Visa. This I don't think is an OCA problem because China have an agreement to let all the athletes who are certified be eligible to come to compete in China" Jizhong said in a press conference.
How did India react?
The Ministry of External Affairs said that a protest had been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India reserved the right to take measures to safeguard its interests.
"As a mark of our protest against the Chinese action, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports of India has cancelled his scheduled visit to China for the Games. Government of India reserves the right to take suitable measures to safeguard our interest," Bagchi said.
The MEA spokesperson said that India rejects the treatment of its players by Chinese Authorities.
"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" he said.
"In line with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India," Arindam Bagchi added.
"A strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China's deliberate and selective obstruction of some of our sportspersons. 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," Bagchi said.