Updated on Sept 26, 3.40 p.m.

The three female Wushu players- Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu- returned to their home state on today.

The players from Arunachal Pradesh were scheduled to fly out to China on the night of Sept 20 from IGI Airport. But could not take the flight as two of them were given stapled visas by the Chinese authorities after first being denied accreditation by the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC).

The Indian government has refused to take the stapled visa and the two players could not take the flight. One player, who was given the accreditation, was told at the airport that her visa was only to Hong Kong and therefore she too did not board the flight.

Reacting to the entire episode, union sports minister Anurag Thakur said: “According to the Olympic Charter, visas were supposed to be granted. This was also the responsibility of the Asian Olympic Committee, and even China should have been granted a visa for any athlete representing India from any corner of India.

“But the behavior was not good. We did not accept the discrimination, and that's why I want to say again, Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and will remain an integral part of India... India will not bow down.”

On Sept 22, the sports minister cancelled his visit to China for the Asian Games as a mark of protest against that country’s decision to deny accreditation and entry to the Indian Wushu team players for the mega sports event.

The Organising Committee of the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have taken up the matter with the Chinese government over the denial of entry into the country for three Indian wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh, who have qualified for the Asiad.

The three female Wushu players- Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu- were scheduled to fly out to China on the night of Sept 20 from IGI Airport in Delhi. But have not been able to reach China till today, a day before the Opening Ceremony and two days before the start of the Wushu competitions.

Officials claim the issuance of e-accreditation

There are conflicting reports in Hangzhou with some officials claiming that two of the three Wushu players have received e-accreditation (which for the Asian Games also serves as a visa) but could not download and validate it, while the third player did not get the accreditation.

The only clear thing was that the three players did not get a physical visa. In case they were not given accreditation, it would be a clear violation of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) rules and also a violation of the Olympic charter.

Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, the chef-de-mission of the Indian Contingent in Hangzhou said they have taken up the matter with the organising committee of the Asian Games and they are trying to work out a solution.

OCA takes up the matter to organising committee

The question was raised today in a press conference addressed by senior OCA and Organising Committee officials where OCA acting-director Vinod Kumar Tiwari said they have taken up the matter with the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC), which in turn will be talking to the Chinese government on this issue.

“This matter was brought to our notice on Thursday (Sept 21) night and we have raised it with HAGOC. They have taken it up with the Chinese government,” he said.

OCA’s acting president, Randhir Singh of India said the matter was discussed during the meeting of OCA Working Group here in Hangzhou and they are actively pursuing the matter with the organising committee of the Asian Games.

Players refused the visa, say authorities

Talking on behalf of the Chinese authorities, Jizhong Wei, a member of the Coordination Commission and honorary life vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia claimed that the three wushu players were not denied visas but given different types of visas, which they refused to take.

“The players were not denied a visa, they were given a different kind of visa which they refused to take because of which they could not fly out to China,” he claimed.

However, in the case of the Asian Games, the prevalidated accreditation card itself acts as a visa and therefore his statement adds to the confusion that is prevailing. The Indian Olympic Association officials said the chef-de-mission is handling the matter and they too are not sure of the entire case.

With the matter threatening to blow up into a diplomatic row between India and China, the three young players are cooling their heels in New Delhi while other members of the Wushu contingent will be participating in the Asian Games.

Wushu is a form of Chinese martial arts, which is played either bare handed, or with weapons, based on the competition rules.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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