NEW DELHI: In a bold move of protest, India has withdrawn its entire wushu team from the World University Games scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China. The decision came in response to China's contentious practice of issuing stapled visas instead of stamped ones to three athletes from the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The athletes, representing India, were denied entry to the international sporting event, prompting India's strong retaliation against what it deemed an "unacceptable" and discriminatory action.
The controversy unfolded when an eight-member contingent, consisting of five athletes, a coach, and two support staff, was stopped at the boarding gate of New Delhi's airport just minutes before their scheduled departure, according to coach Raghvendra Singh.
“We were stopped at the gate by immigration officials and CISF personnel. They did not give any reason and claimed they were merely acting on the government’s instructions,” Singh told the media.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, expressed India's firm stance on the matter, asserting that there should be no differentiation or prejudice based on domicile or ethnicity in the visa issuance for Indian citizens holding valid passports. Bagchi branded the Chinese decision as unacceptable and conveyed that India retains the right to respond appropriately to such actions.
“Our long-standing and consistent position is that there should be no discrimination or differential treatment based on domicile or ethnicity in the visa regime for Indian citizens holding valid India passports,” Bagchi said.
“It has come to our notice that stapled visas were issued to some of our citizens representing the country in an international sporting event in China. This is unacceptable and we have lodged our strong protest with the Chinese side, reiterating our consistent position on the matter,” he said.
The root cause of the issue lies in China's consistent refusal to grant stamped visas to Indian citizens hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, primarily due to an ongoing territorial dispute. The three athletes, Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu, had submitted their visa applications on July 16. However, while the rest of the team's applications were processed in a timely manner, the Chinese embassy declined the Arunachal athletes' documents.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, the Arunachal athletes were requested to resubmit their applications on Tuesday, and to their dismay, the Chinese embassy returned their passports on Wednesday afternoon with stapled visas, signifying a clear indication of discriminatory treatment.
As soon as the Indian government became aware of this decision, it immediately put the team's participation in the World University Games on hold. After careful consideration and to make a resolute statement against China's prejudiced actions, India eventually decided to boycott the wushu competition at the Games, denying all Indian wushu players the opportunity to participate.
This is not the first instance of China resorting to stapled visas as a discriminatory practice. In 2011, five karatekas from Arunachal Pradesh faced a similar situation when they were issued stapled visas for competition in Quanzhou. India's strong protestations against this repetitive treatment highlight its commitment to fair play and the principle of non-discrimination in international sporting events.
With the withdrawal of its wushu team, India conveys a powerful message to China, standing firmly against any form of differential treatment based on ethnicity or domicile. The decision showcases India's unwavering dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of its citizens, particularly its athletes who represent the nation on the global stage.
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