New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI): India's participation in the World Youth Archery Championships has been thrown into jeopardy after 20 members of a 31-strong team, including South Korean coach Chae Wom Lim, were denied visas by the US embassy in Delhi.
The Indian contingent, comprising Under-20 boys and girls, junior archers were scheduled to leave for the US on Saturday for the June 8-14 event in Yankton, South Dakota.
But the US embassy in Delhi granted visas to only seven archers, two coaches and a Sports Authority of India (SAI) official while rejecting 20, thereby putting serious doubts over India's participation in the event.
Besides Lim, three Indian coaches Mim Bahadur Gurung, Chandra Shekhar Laguri, Ram Awdesh and masseuse Pinki were also denied visas.
Archery Association of India (AAI) treasurer Virender Sachdeva told PTI that the denial was on the ground that the visa officer was not satisfied with the interview of the rejected individuals and doubted that they may not return after the completion of the event.
"It is really a shocking incident. Most of the archers are from lower strata and hail from states like Assam, Jharkhand, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Most of them are not well-versed in English and hence lack in communication. When the visa officer asked them what they do for a living, they simply said we are archers and play archery," Sachdeva told PTI.
"This might have raised doubts in the minds of the visa officer, resulting in refusal of visas. But I don't understand why Lim was denied because he is a known figure in world archery and has travelled worldwide," he said.
Sachdeva said what was more shocking was that the visas were denied despite having the government of India's sanction order and invitation from the US Archery Association.
He said the AAI has approached the ministry of external affairs and the sports ministry on this issue but to no avail.
Sachdeva said that as per US Archery Association's advice, they have re-applied for the visas.
"We have re-applied by submitting new visa fees but we are not sure whether the issue will be solved by tomorrow (Saturday). If not, then the three months of practice which these young archers have undergone staying away from their home will be of no use," the AAI official said.
Comment on this article
Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur, Mangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015Suit-Boot.
Jhoot-Moot.
India Loot.
P.M., Pick-Nick saath saath Bagladesh ka Vikas.
Hindustan Meim 24X7 in T.V. Bakwaas.
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TOM CAT, Mangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015India is super power it was d by our picnic minister modi.How dare USA deny visa.
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vivek, herebile / abudhabi
Sat, Jun 06 2015Before we Ashamed as Indian...now we are Proud..America should Understand....please ban any of their Product....he he he.....please Fulfill their Visa requirement...Its Government Duty not Archers....
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Peter, Bangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015Vivek
Coca cola , Pepsi , KFC are not only America,s product.
Their products include Satelite services , intelligent services, Semiconductors related ,Google , Yahoo etc.
I hope you have IQ level , which will analyse the important of these product before imposing ban.
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India First, India
Sat, Jun 06 2015America fears about Indian archers, !! Because they always aim to GOLD !!
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CHRIS, DUBAI
Sat, Jun 06 2015This is wrong ,America should be rejecting visas of Arabs not Indians,
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Falaq Ali, Kasargod
Sat, Jun 06 2015Why Arabs? Arabs never restricted Anybody .Remember brother US is depending on Arabs Fossil Fuels,
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CHRIS, DUBAI
Sat, Jun 06 2015DO ARABS OFFER THE FOSSIL FUEL FOR FREE ???
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TOM CAT, Mangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015Wrong falq ali US has enough oil of their own, do you know shale oil and where it comes from, and reason for low price of oil , its USA they glutted the market with shale oil.
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S.F.H, Indian
Sat, Jun 06 2015Chris,
They will not reject Visa for Arabs...because Like you most of the Americans live by the mercy and sympathy of Arabs and the money they throw for doing their services...Arabs are Bosses...
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CHRIS, DUBAI
Sat, Jun 06 2015THEY RELY ON THE WEST TO DIG UP THE OIL FROM THEIR OWN BACK YARD ...THEY ARE FIT TO RIDE CAMELS AND MARRY GOATS LOLZ
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yogesh, mumbai
Sat, Jun 06 2015" Most of the archers are Assam, Jharkhand, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. When the visa officer asked them what they do for a living, they simply said we are archers and play archery," Shame!
Looks like they were aadivaasi bowmen not trained archers!!!
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jeevan, mangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015Why America afraid of Indian archers ???
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CONRAD JOHN TAURO, SHIRVA/UDUPI/DUBAI
Sat, Jun 06 2015Our PM can request...
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rizwan, Dubai/Mangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015How our PM can request as once he himself was in REJECTED LIST !!!
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ca girishkk, m'lore/dxb
Sat, Jun 06 2015Our honorable PM Namo quite often was shouting that -
"in the past Hindustani's are ashamed of their Hindustani Pass port" for overseas travel.
This is the time for PM Namo to answer this shame of visa rejection by a beef eating Nation called USA.
What is the response to this by our pradhan sevak PM Namo...????
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Shivappa, Mangaluru
Sat, Jun 06 20157 archers who were given visa were your relatives?
if US had problem with India or Modi, the way you try to project, then ALL of them should have been denied Visa.
Your indigestion is incurable.
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ca girishkk, m'lore/dxb
Sat, Jun 06 2015your response itself reflect who feels indigestion.
take it easy .. no issue... LOL
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Eulalia Dsouza, Bijai / Mangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015It is but natural that US will safe guard their Country's interest while issuing visas. Were not the Officials aware that you can also choose other languages for interview, such as Hindi for them like Kannada for people from Karnataka if they are not well versed in English. It is so disappointing to these athletes who would have put in so much efforts to be included in team India.!!
Let us hope that PMO intervenes & good relationship that our PM & President of USA share will work wonders, at this time of crisis.!!!!
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Peter, Bangalore
Sat, Jun 06 2015Many countries denied VISA to modi before 2014.
And now Modi got VISA and he is not ready to return India.
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Anonymous,
Sat, Jun 06 2015India is close friend of USA. India is a super power under Shriman Modiji. Shriman Modiji and Barack are very close friends.
Pe Pee Pee Pee Pee Pee Pee Pee
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