Pakistan’s participation on hold

NEW DELHI: The Home Ministry has given green light to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for hosting the Asian Junior Championship but has put on hold participation of grapplers from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, according to officials.
WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar confirmed that the MHA has given a go ahead for the event but said Pakistan’s participation was “subject to clearance from security agencies.”
While Tomar informed only about Pakistan’s participation, the PTI has learnt that clearance has been put on hold also for wrestlers from Iraq and Afghanistan. The MHA has communicated to the Federation that it will confirm the participation of the three countries in “due course”.
The clearance for the tournament paves the way for the grapplers and the officials from Uzbekistan, Japan and Turkmenistan and Korea to secure visas.
WFI Secretary VN Prasood said the tournament will go ahead even if Pakistan contingent does not get permission to compete but it will have its own consequences.
“The tournament is on. We have given visa requests for Pakistan also but it all depends on ministry. If Pakistan are not allowed, the world body UWW may not give India tournaments to host in future,” Prasood feared.
The WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh while addressing media said that Pakistan should be given permission to compete.
“If Pakistani contingent are not allowed to compete and denied visa, the UWW (world body) may punish us. They may ban us and take away the event from India.” Singh said. (PTI)