Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku has not been allowed to participate in the AIBA Women World Boxing Championship that began on Thursday.
With the Spanish government deciding to allow athletes from Kosovo to participate in international sporting events being held in the country, India has been criticised for not following suit in order to avoid sanctions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku has not been allowed to participate in the AIBA Women World Boxing Championship that began on Thursday.
Spain, on the other hand, has allowed Kosovan athletes to use their national symbols, anthem and flag in international competitions organised in the country even if Madrid doesn't recognise the independence of the Balkan state.
"The IOC and the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) wish to publicly express their deepest satisfaction with the decision taken today by the Spanish Government regarding the participation of Kosovan athletes in international competitions to be held in Spain," a joint statement by IOC and Spanish Olympic Committee said.
The IOC had, recently, written to various international sports federations stating that Spain will not be allowed to host big-ticket sporting events due to their stand on Kosovo athletes.
But while Spain has acted swiftly, there is still no official word from the Sports ministry in India.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narendra Batra told DNA that he was unable to understand why Albanian passports of Kosovo participants were not considered.
"Almost all athletes of Kosovo retain their Albanian passports. If India doesn't recognise Kosovo, then why were their Albanian passports not considered to allow them in for the World Boxing Championship?" Batra said.
A senior official from the Sports ministry said that this is an issue to be dealt by the Indian government.
"How India deals with countries it does not recognise is something which only the government can answer," the official said.
With the boxing championship beginning in New Delhi, there is nothing that can happen now on the visas of the Kosovo boxer and her trainers. Thus, there is every possibility that India may get a letter from IOC, similar to that of Spain.
OCA slams India stand
The Olympic Council of Asia has shot off a letter to Indian Olympic Association Narinder Batra and sports miniter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, criticising the Indian government's stand of not allowing the Kosovo boxer. "The incident has seriously cast a doubt on the eligibility of India in hosting major international sporting events and other major games, like the Olympics, Asian Games etc., in India," OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said in his letter.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Donjeta Sadiku")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}