Four days to departure, wrestlers yet to get appointment for visas

The Indian cadet wrestling teams risk missing the prestigious U17 World Championship in Athens, beginning on July 28, as the 47-member contingent is scheduled to depart on Saturday but the Greece embassy is yet to respond to their visa appointment request.

- Agencies

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had sought appointment on July 10 but 12 days have passed and it is yet to hear a positive response from the embassy. When nothing moved even six days after their request, WFI wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on July 16, seeking intervention.

The 47-member Indian contingent has 30 wrestlers, who made the national team after coming through selection trials conducted by WFI on July 7 and 8 in Delhi and Lucknow respectively.

“The Federation had to seek intervention of the MEA and the Home Ministry after its numerous requests did not receive a positive response from the Greece embassy,” WFI President Sanjay Singh told PTI.