Three Indian athletes denied entry for Asian Games, Anurag Thakur cancels visit to China
China has repeatedly targeted athletes from Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims is a part of China
Amidst the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, three Indian wushu players- Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu from the state of Arunachal Pradesh have been denied entry by China despite them having an e-accreditation which also serves as a visa for the Asian Games. This act is in clear violation of the rules of the Olympic Council of Asia and also a breach of the Olympic charter.
Following this, the players were brought back to the Sports Authority of India hostel at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Earlier, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, the chef-de-mission of the Indian Contingent in Hangzhou said they had taken up the matter with the organising committee of the Asian Games and also with the OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) and that they were hopeful that the matter would soon be resolved.
Meanwhile official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi said, “The 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.”
“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,” he said.
Arindam Bagchi said a strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China’s “deliberate and selective obstruction” of some of our sportspersons. He also said that India reserves the right to take “suitable measures to safeguard our interests”.
Anurag Thakur has cancelled his scheduled trip to China for the Asian Games.
Further as a mark of protest against the Chinese action, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports of India, Anurag Thakur has cancelled his scheduled trip to China for the Asian Games.
In response to the ongoing controversy Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “As the host country, China welcomes athletes from all countries to come to Hangzhou to participate in the Asian Games with legal documents.” “As to the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’, the Chinese government doesn’t recognise it. Zangnan (southern part of Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region) is part of China’s territory,” Ning said.
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