Nineteen Indian archers, who were scheduled to leave for the US on Saturday to participate in the World Youth Archery Championships in Yankton, South Dakota, have been denied visas by the United States embassy.
“Indian team of 32 archers had to participate in World Youth Archery championship to be held in the U.S. Out of 32, 2 already had visas. The rest had applied for a visa of which only 10 were granted and 19 were denied,” Archery Association of India treasurer Virender Sachdeva told ANI.
He also said that the visas were denied on the grounds that the visa officer was not satisfied with the interview of the rejected individuals and doubted that they may not return to India after the completion of the event.
“We have the government’s sanction order, the U.S archery association’s invite having names and passport numbers of all. I don’t know why they were denied,” Sachdeva added.
IOA vice-president Tarlochan Singh said that the U.S embassy should have encouraged the young archers to participate in championship.
“We have applied again, we are making all efforts but we are not able to understand the attitude of US embassy,” he added.
Meanwhile, a dejected player recounted what happened at the embassy.
“I was asked about my father’s occupation and asked about my siblings. Then, they took my passport, closed the window and had discussion among themselves and later just said that they cannot grant visa,” Prachi Singh, an archer, told ANI. (ANI)