Indian wrestlers denied visas for U-23 World championships after Spanish Embassy doubts they might overstay

This is the first time in the competition's six-year history that the Indian team won't feature in the prestigious meet, which attracts a world-class field. At the 2021 edition of the tournament in Belgrade, Indian wrestlers had secured an impressive five medals, including Shivani Pawar's historic silver in the women's 50kg class, to cap the country's most successful outing at the event since its inaugural edition in 2017.

A 45-member Indian contingent, including 30 wrestlers in the men's and women's freestyle and greco-roman categories, was selected by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the Worlds. Some top names included women's 53kg wrestler Antim Panghal, India's first-ever U-20 world champion in wrestling, world cadet champion Sagar Jaglan (men's 74kg), Asian cadet bronze medallist Reetika Hooda (women's 72kg) and junior Worlds silver medallist Bhateri (women's 65kg), among others.

According to WFI's assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, their applications for Schengen visa were submitted to the embassy on October 4 in the ‘normal' category and the tickets were booked accordingly for their departure on October 16. However, the embassy informed them about the cancellation of their visa forms - except for nine wrestlers who have already left for the event – because they might overstay in Pontevedra.

The WFI shared the visa application of Antim, who was denied visa on a frivolous ground. "The Embassy of Spain in New Delhi has examined your application and the visa has been refused.

The decision is based on the following reasons: the information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable. There are reasonable doubts as to your intention to leave the