INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Union sports minister Anurag Thakur has cancelled his visit to China for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou after Chinese
authorities denied accreditation and entry to three sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh for the games, which begin on September 23.Visas
were refused by athletes: OCA ethics panel chiefWei Jizhong, chairman of the ethics panel of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) -- the sports
governing body for the Asian Games -- said that the Indian athletes have been granted a visa to enter China and that Beijing has not refused
any visa.India China Asian Games Row: MP Kiren Rijiju condemns China's denial of visas to Arunachal Pradesh athletes"These Indian athletes
have got the visa already to enter China
China didn't refuse any visa
Unfortunately, these athletes didn't accept this visa
I don't think this is OCA problem because China has an agreement to let all the athletes who have certified eligibility come to compete in
The visa has already been granted," said Wei.The OCA's acting president Randhir Singh said: "We had a meeting on Thursday with the Working
Group and this has been taken up
They are taking it up with the government and we are also taking it up with the government."Discrimination based on domicile: MEAThe
development comes as the Ministry of External Affairs reacted to reports of discrimination by Chinese authorities."The government of India
has learnt that the Chinese authorities have, in a targeted and pre-meditated manner, discriminated against some 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."In line with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens based
Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India
A strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China's deliberate and selective obstruction of some of our
which explicitly prohibits discrimination against competitors from member states
"As a mark of our protest against the Chinese action, the Union sports minister has cancelled his scheduled visit to China for the Games
The government of India reserves the right to take suitable measures to safeguard our interests," added Bagchi.Martial arts athletesSeveral
media reports stated that three Indian martial arts athletes from Arunachal Pradesh have been forced to pull out of the Asian Games after
not receiving clearance from the host country.The three women are wushu fighters
Wushu, or kung fu, is a multi-disciplinary martial art originating in China.The trio was approved to take part by the Hangzhou Asian Games
Organising Committee but were unable to download their accreditation cards -- which act as visas to enter China
The rest of the 10-member squad along with the coaching staff left for the Games in Hangzhou on Wednesday
Past incidentThe Indian wushu team did not travel to the Chinese city of Chengdu for the World University Games in July this year after the
same three athletes were issued stapled, rather than pasted, visas -- an indication that Beijing does not recognise India's territorial
claim over Arunachal Pradesh, said some media reports.The move triggered angry reactions from the Indian side with the foreign ministry
saying it was "unacceptable".(With inputs from agencies)
