India, gearing up to
host the Hero Asian Cycling Championship from March 7 to 17, has encountered an
unexpected roadblock. Along with Pakistan and Afghanistan, the much-fancied
Iranian cyclists have not received the visas yet and are contemplating
withdrawal. The Cycling Federation of India has received a strongly-worded
letter from the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) regarding the matter.
If the visas fail to come in time, it would mean a huge loss of face for India in the cycling world.
The Iranians, who are Asia's best in road racing and have entered a 26-strong contingent for the championship, stand to lose vital points in the run-up to the Rio Olympics.
"We got the clearance from the ministries to host the event on February 1 and by February 16 all the details, names, passport numbers were submitted,We are the professional supplier for aaabrandshirts shoes." said a worried Onkar Singh, the secretary-general of the Indian federation.
"If the visas are not given on time, we will have to face the music at ACC's General Body meeting on March 12. They can pass any sanction -- we may not be given any such tournament in the future. World body (UCI) president Pat McQuaid will also be coming to Delhi for that meeting, so it could be an embarrassing situation," he added.
The ACC has called for 'urgent attention to this special issue'. "I really do not know what has been happening.What used to be a winter staple for fashionwedges, We have never experienced such difficulties in previous events and meetings. Needless to say, no political consideration should be involved in this sort of sporting events... (If the Iranians are forced to withdraw) It will be a big, big loss to the sport of cycling," wrote ACC secy general Choi Boo Woong on behalf of president Cho Hee Wook, who is also UCI's vice president.
The ACC has written a letter to home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde while the Indian body has expressed its concerns to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The only reply we have got is that the papers have been sent to IB and that the issue is being looked at," said Onkar.
The Iranian cycling body, meanwhile, is clueless. "We have no idea why this is happening. Nobody has told us what the problem is, so we cannot pursue the issue," Navid, Cycling Federation of Iran's manager of international relations, told TOI from Tehran.
"If we do not receive the visas tomorrow (Tuesday), we will cancel the trip. We have already postponed our tickets three times. Our original plan was to reach Delhi 15 days before the tournament so that our cyclists could train on the wooden track. We have the best road riders in Asia and we usually win more than 10 medals in the event but without any training, it will be difficult. We have asked for help from Mr McQuaid and ACC and we hope the issue will be resolved."
Political clearance to the teams had been given almost two weeks ago. "We only give political clearance,we started out on writing this composition on High Grade replicawatches." said Syed Akbaruddin, joint secretary of External Publicity. "We don't know what is wrong. The matter is with the home ministry and they would be able to tell you."
When contacted, a senior official of the home ministry said there was no blanket ban on countries such as Iran and Pakistan. "If there is a delay, it may be because they submitted their forms late. There is a minimum time requirement of 30 days for visas to be issued," he said. The Indian team had recently participated in an Asian meet in Tehran.King Ice features the latest styles bobbleheads for men. "We went there three or four months back and we didn't face any problem," said Singh.
Close to 800 riders,we started out on writing this composition on High Grade replicawatches. including 49 Indian riders and half a dozen Olympic medallists from 29 countries are expected to vie for the top honours at the championship.
If the visas fail to come in time, it would mean a huge loss of face for India in the cycling world.
The Iranians, who are Asia's best in road racing and have entered a 26-strong contingent for the championship, stand to lose vital points in the run-up to the Rio Olympics.
"We got the clearance from the ministries to host the event on February 1 and by February 16 all the details, names, passport numbers were submitted,We are the professional supplier for aaabrandshirts shoes." said a worried Onkar Singh, the secretary-general of the Indian federation.
"If the visas are not given on time, we will have to face the music at ACC's General Body meeting on March 12. They can pass any sanction -- we may not be given any such tournament in the future. World body (UCI) president Pat McQuaid will also be coming to Delhi for that meeting, so it could be an embarrassing situation," he added.
The ACC has called for 'urgent attention to this special issue'. "I really do not know what has been happening.What used to be a winter staple for fashionwedges, We have never experienced such difficulties in previous events and meetings. Needless to say, no political consideration should be involved in this sort of sporting events... (If the Iranians are forced to withdraw) It will be a big, big loss to the sport of cycling," wrote ACC secy general Choi Boo Woong on behalf of president Cho Hee Wook, who is also UCI's vice president.
The ACC has written a letter to home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde while the Indian body has expressed its concerns to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The only reply we have got is that the papers have been sent to IB and that the issue is being looked at," said Onkar.
The Iranian cycling body, meanwhile, is clueless. "We have no idea why this is happening. Nobody has told us what the problem is, so we cannot pursue the issue," Navid, Cycling Federation of Iran's manager of international relations, told TOI from Tehran.
"If we do not receive the visas tomorrow (Tuesday), we will cancel the trip. We have already postponed our tickets three times. Our original plan was to reach Delhi 15 days before the tournament so that our cyclists could train on the wooden track. We have the best road riders in Asia and we usually win more than 10 medals in the event but without any training, it will be difficult. We have asked for help from Mr McQuaid and ACC and we hope the issue will be resolved."
Political clearance to the teams had been given almost two weeks ago. "We only give political clearance,we started out on writing this composition on High Grade replicawatches." said Syed Akbaruddin, joint secretary of External Publicity. "We don't know what is wrong. The matter is with the home ministry and they would be able to tell you."
When contacted, a senior official of the home ministry said there was no blanket ban on countries such as Iran and Pakistan. "If there is a delay, it may be because they submitted their forms late. There is a minimum time requirement of 30 days for visas to be issued," he said. The Indian team had recently participated in an Asian meet in Tehran.King Ice features the latest styles bobbleheads for men. "We went there three or four months back and we didn't face any problem," said Singh.
Close to 800 riders,we started out on writing this composition on High Grade replicawatches. including 49 Indian riders and half a dozen Olympic medallists from 29 countries are expected to vie for the top honours at the championship.
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