The uncertainty over Pakistani wrestlers playing in the Asian Championships to be held from 18 to 23 February finally ended after the government granted the visa to the Pakistani wrestlers. The decision on the participation of Chinese wrestlers will be decided on Monday.
Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), said the entire Pakistani contingent was granted a visa. Pakistan is sending a team of four freestyle wrestlers, a coach and a referee. It will be the first Pakistani team to participate in any sporting event in India after the Pulwama terror attack in February last year.
The four Pakistani wrestlers are Muhammad Bilal (57 kg), Abdul Rahman (74 kg), Tayyab Raza (97 kg) and Zaman Anwar (125 kg). Not giving visas to Pakistani wrestlers would have had serious consequences for India, including a possible ban on the Indian wrestling federation from the world body and that too in the Olympic year. However, the situation has not yet been clarified in relation to the 40-member Chinese wrestling team. Their travel-related documents have not yet been approved due to the dangerous Corona virus infection.
