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Visa issues ground US-bound grapplers
The Indian wrestling team's preparations for the London Games have hit a roadblock, at least temporarily. The absence of relevant travel documents has delayed the 45-day training camp, which was supposed to commence from Friday at the Colorado Springs (USA), by over a week.
The Indian wrestling team's preparations for the London Games have hit a roadblock, at least temporarily. The absence of relevant travel documents has delayed the 45-day training camp, which was supposed to commence from Friday at the Colorado Springs (USA), by over a week.
The contingent was to reach its destination on Friday, but will now leave next week. The current scenario is intriguing as the Olympic preparatory camp had been cleared by sports ministry's steering committee a month ago, yet the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chose to drag its feet.
According to a team member, another delay is on the cards as some of the members don’t have a US visa.
But the WFI is unfazed. “Those who don't have a US visa, can join the team later,” said secretary general Raj Singh. The four-member men's team, including Beijing bronze medalist Sushil Kumar is training at Sonepat. Geeta Phogat, the lone woman wrestler to have won a berth, is training at Patiala.
