Visa issue: Judokas 3rd time unlucky

IN an unusual turn of events, cadet judokas of the country have missed international events not once but thrice in the last three months.

- FIROZ MIRZA

For the first event they could not fly out of the country as they received visas a day after their scheduled departure. Since then, they have been denied visas twice for two competitions. With international events coming to end for this year, the last refusal meant these judokas, most of whom will turn 18 soon, will become ineligible for the cadet category by the time the next event begins.

As many as 15 judokas, four coaches, one referee and one manager were scheduled to visit Greece for Thessaloniki Cadet European Cup 2024 slated on November 23 and 24. The judokas were given the tournament as a compensation for missing the second event in Hungary earlier this month. Interestingly, the second event was like a 6compensation, for missing the first in South Korea. What next? Now these judokas are apparently being promised an overseas camp as compensation by the Judo Federation of India (J FI) for missing the latest tournament.