Lack of visa power trips Pak’s kabaddi team

MUMBAI: Pakistan’s participation in the second kabaddi World Cup, which begins today in Panvel, is all but over. Reason: India has not issued visas, reportedly because some of the players are from the armed forces.

“We submitted all the papers well in advance (60 days) but are only being told now that the Indian government is reluctant to issue visas because some players are from the armed forces,” said Janardan Singh Gehlot, president of the International Kabaddi Federation and the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India.

“It is a great loss to the championship,” Gehlot said. “I don’t understand why only the kabaddi team is being barred while the squash, tennis, and cricket teams come over all the time.”

Mohammad Sarvar, secretary general of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation, was still in the dark as to why visas were not issued. “The team is waiting outside the Indian embassy for visas and I am just praying they get them soon,” he told DNA from Islamabad.

Sarvar agreed that the team comprises players from the armed forces. “We do have a few players from the army and the navy,” he said, “but I am not aware why visas are not being issued.”

A senior official from the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi admitted that India and Pakistan do not, in the normal course, issue visas to the other’s serving military officers.