A severe administrative hurdle has jeopardized India's wrestling campaign in the United States just days before competition begins. Nine Indian wrestlers scheduled to grapple at the U23 World Wrestling Championship in Las Vegas, set to run between October 12 and October 18, had their visa applications turned down. Among those barred from travelling is Neha Sangwan, who captured the U17 world title in 2024, raising serious concerns over India's podium prospects in Nevada.
Interviews End in Rejection Over Age and Employment Rules
Contingent members appeared for their mandatory in-person visa interviews on October 7 at the United States Embassy in New Delhi. Following the screening, consular officers handed back passports to nine athletes along with formal rejection notices. Authorities cited the applicants being under 20 years of age and their lack of formal employment as the rationale behind declining their entry permits.
WFI Petitions Consular Officials for Immediate Reconsideration
The Wrestling Federation of India responded swiftly by dispatching a formal letter urging embassy officials to review the rejections. According to the federation, 24 participants visited the embassy for appointments on October 7, comprising 16 active wrestlers. Consular authorities turned away nine of those grapplers due to their unemployed status and youth.
In its communication, the federation stressed that the upcoming tournament is specifically organized for the under-23 age bracket, bringing together competitors strictly between 18 and 23 years of age. Given that these young athletes are actively building their sporting careers, the federation argued that expecting them to maintain conventional corporate employment is unrealistic. Officials requested the embassy to consider the sporting context and clear the contingent to compete.
Fears Mount for Wrestlers Scheduled for Upcoming Screenings
The wrestlers facing rejection include Samarth Gajanan Mhakave, Dheeraj Kumar Malik, Sachin Kumar, Nikhil, Hardeep, Parveen, Ahilya Shatrughan Shinde, Neha Sharma, and Neha Sangwan. The federation also expressed anxiety over candidates scheduled for their visa appointments on October 8, warning that applying identical employment criteria to young athletes could wipe out India's representation across multiple weight categories.
