Asian Cycling: India Visa woes hit Iran, Pakistan

[Feyen]

New Delhi: Asian cycling giants Iran and cyclists from Pakistan and Afghanistan are unlikely to compete in the Asian Championships starting here Thursday owing to visa issues.

Cycle Federation of India (CFI) secretary general Onkar Singh told IANS Monday that cyclists of the three countries are yet to get clearance from the home ministry following which the ministry of external affairs will issue the visas.

"We have given all the information the Intelligence Bureau (which falls under the home ministry) asked for. The officials of these countries and I are in constant touch and they are worried about their participation. As organisers, we are particularly worried about Iran. The event will lose credibility if they don`t compete. Though it looks unlikely, I hope Iran get it (clearance) at the last moment," said Onkar Singh.

Home ministry officials were not available for comment.

Asian Cycling: Visa woes hit Iran, Pakistan

why is india not giving visas to pakistani and iranian cyclers?

 

[Safriz]

India is one of the worse country to hold a multinational event....
They have to be the drama queens..

Three asian countries cant take part then how is this 'asian championship'?

The world leaders of dirty politics and showing political grudge via sports...Thats india.

 

[SHAMK9]

why is india not giving visas to pakistani and iranian cyclers?

Include Afghanistan in the list, answer to your question is: Sports are used as a political weapons in this side of the world.

 

[Abhishek_]

India is one of the worse country to hold a multinational event....
They have to be the drama queens..

Three asian countries cant take part then how is this 'asian championship'?

The world leaders of dirty politics and showing political grudge via sports...Thats india.

true to a certain extent. the babudom is infamous for its inefficiency. hoping they sort out the visa issues sooner than later.

 

[Feyen]

Visa issues threaten Indian cycling event after Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan denied clearance for Asian meet

As many as three nations are yet to get the visa clearance to participate in the Hero Asian Cycling Championship with just two days left for the tournament.

Teams from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are still to arrive for the competition scheduled from March 7-17.

With the tournament being a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics, the tension of Cycling Federation of India has only increased. The International Cycling Union (UCI) has already communicated its displeasure on the issue to the CFI.

The international body has also made it clear that if a sport powerhouse like Iran does not get to compete then India might not get to host cycling events in the future.

"India is hosting a cycling tournament of this stature after eight years and it's disappointing that the three countries are yet to receive visa clearance, though the procedure was initiated on time," Parminder Singh Dhindsa, chairman of CFI, said.

"It's already too late as we had sent the details to the ministry on 16th February. Iran is a powerhouse in cycling and if they can't participate then it's surely going to take away some sheen off the championship."

"We have written to the home ministry and the prime minister too but nothing fruitful has happened. We had earlier faced problems for visas of the Chinese contingent too but it was sorted out," he said. The top official also added that they are in touch with the government.

"Till now, nothing positive has happened. Iran has informed that if the visas are not ready by Monday night then they won't be sending their team," Dhindsa said.

"The UCI and the Asian Cycling Confederation are bit annoyed with the situation and have indicated that India might be ineligible to get international tournaments in the future," Dhindsa said.

Among the prominent Iranian cyclists who are supposed to come is Mehdi Sohrabi, who won the Asian Championships in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

Barring the three, 26 countries have confirmed their participation in the March 7-17 event including the para, track and road events. Both the senior and junior championships will be held simultaneously.

India have the second largest contingent with 64 members after Kazakhstan (67). Coach Amar Singh said the team is bound to reap benefit from the hard work the cyclists have put on in training in the last eight months.

"We have been preparing in the Capital for the last eight months during which time the timing of the cyclists have improved considerably. We hope to give fight to the powerhouses like Malaysia, South Korea and Japan," he said.

The coach pointed out to the events where the hosts had maximum chances of winning medals. "We have high chances of winning medals in the team sprint event in the boys, girls and women's category. I guess our junior cyclists have better potential to do well," he said.

Visa issues threaten Indian cycling event after Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan denied clearance for Asian meet : Other Sports, News - India Today

 

[navtrek]

Asian Cycling: Visa woes hit Iran, Pakistan

why is india not giving visas to pakistani and iranian cyclers?

Simple Pakistan coz U know the Kashmir Mujahedin story so lots of security paper work needs to be done to get visa. With Iran the bomb blast in Delhi related to Israel.

Seriously Iran should have had considered before bombing the Israelis in India. "That was unwise!"

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Simple Pakistan coz U know the Kashmir Mujahedin story so lots of security paper work needs to be done to get visa. With Iran the bomb blast in Delhi related to Israel.

Seriously Iran should have had considered before bombing the Israelis in India. "That was unwise!"

Evil Pakistanis and Iranians....... what abt ur new found brother afghanistan?

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Iranians and Afghans will get through i am pretty sure. Not sure about Pakistanis

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Why is this asia championship being held in this hindu country in the first hand??

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Why is this asia championship being held in this hindu country in the first hand??

Because muslim country Pakistan is not safe enough and neither does it have the requisite infrastructure to conduct such an event.

 

[farhan_9909]

such actions confirms that shiv sena/rss are involved in Indian govt establishment.

while they make big issues of pak army being involved in Pak establishment they forgot to look at shiv sena

 

[Backbencher]

Why is this asia championship being held in this hindu country in the first hand??

Cause nobody wants to come to Pakistan , remember ?

I bet Iranians and Afgans will get clearence since this news can be a critic to the government . However I am not too sure about the Pakistanis

 

[KRAIT]

Let me give the answers to Indians and our Dear Pakistanis,

Iran is not getting visa due to US pressure on Congress led Govt. as India went against US over oil issue, so India has to reciprocate to keep US few demands. Its obvious, diplomatic problem.

But when Iranian govt. come into action and ask, they will be given Visas. here are

As for Pakistanis,

1. There are 10,000 Iranian students studying in India. And they are not blown up or shot at by terrorists.

2. India is much safer than any country in Indian Sub-Continent, including Bangladesh, Pakistan. Pakistanis should be last people to talk about security.

3. India has the infrastructure needed for the event. We have hosted Asian Games, Commonwealth games. (We had problem, even London Olympics had too)

4. Iranians are Shias and they will be much safer in India than in Pakistan. Even if Shiv Sena/RSS protest. BTW they protest against Pakistan not Iran. And its India, every one has right to protest. But they won't be coming with AK-47 and C4 laden suicide bombers.

@Umair Nawaz @farhan_9909 @Safriz Hope this tell what are the real issues and why you shouldn't talk who is Drama Queen and Insecure nation.

 

[navtrek]

Evil Pakistanis and Iranians....... what abt ur new found brother afghanistan?

I never told that Iranians are evil but what i meant was that they did was a tit for tat with Israel (I am with Iran on that) but they should have not done it in India that is what i meant.

Honestly Pakistanis are also not evil its just that they are bought up in an anti India environment. (Its pure politics)

 

[Abingdonboy]

India is one of the worse country to hold a multinational event....
They have to be the drama queens..

Three asian countries cant take part then how is this 'asian championship'?

The world leaders of dirty politics and showing political grudge via sports...Thats india.

India has the right to issue Visas to whomever it deems deserving, every sovereign nation reserves this right. No one can really comment about this news whilst it is unclear on what grounds the Visas were denied.