Cadet wrestlers denied chance of participation in Worlds

Days after India won two medals in wrestling at the London Olympics, the country's next batch of promising grapplers were robbed of an opportunity to compete in the World Cadet Championship to be held in Baku, Ajerbaijan as they were denied visa.

The competition is scheduled to be held from August 21 to 27, but the wrestlers and their coaches are supposed to report to the venue two days before the start of the tournament, as they are to attend a clinic and also be present for the weigh-in.

"We have applied for the visa on August 10 but we have still been denied. This was a golden opportunity for the boys and girls," said freestyle coach Ajit Mann, one of the six in the team.

A 42-member team, including six coaches, was supposed to travel to Baku for the tournament. There were 10 boys in freestyle, 10 in greco-roman and 10 in girls section along with two coaches and one manager for each team. Besides, there were two referees and a masseur.

While the organisers of the tournament have claimed that they have given their recommendations, Ajerbaijan embassy here told Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials said that it has not been cleared in Baku.

Some of the boys in freestyle, who were to take part in the competition, have already won gold medals in the Asian Cadet Championship.

"They would have definitely won gold there also and it will be unfortunate if they don't compete," Mann said.

The clinic for coaches and athletes was scheduled for August 19 with weigh-in the next day.