The Indian cadet wrestling teams are facing a significant hurdle as they prepare for the U17 World Championships in Athens, Greece, scheduled to begin on July 28, 2025. The 47-member contingent, comprising 30 wrestlers selected after rigorous trials conducted by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on July 7 and 8, is scheduled to depart on Saturday, but their participation is now uncertain due to pending visa appointments.
The WFI submitted the visa appointment requests to the Greece embassy on July 10, but as of July 22, they are yet to receive a response. This delay has prompted the WFI to seek intervention from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on July 16, hoping to expedite the process.
WFI President Sanjay Singh expressed his concerns, emphasizing the importance of the championship for the young athletes' development. He stressed that missing the event would be a setback for their growth and that the federation is doing everything possible to ensure their participation. Singh remains hopeful that a resolution will be reached promptly. Another WFI official highlighted the unusual delay, noting that visas from the Greece embassy typically take only four days to process, and contrasted it with the swift issuance of a Schengen visa by the Hungary embassy for wrestler Harshita.
The Indian squad includes several Asian Championship gold medalists, such as Rachna Parmar (43kg), Moni (57kg), Ashvini Vaishno (65kg), and Manisha (69kg), who are considered strong contenders for medals in Athens. Their potential absence would not only diminish India's chances at the competition but also deny these promising athletes a crucial opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage.
The U17 World Championships are scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 3. United World Wrestling (UWW) President Nenad Lalovic has also appealed to the Hellenic Olympic Committee for urgent intervention, highlighting the importance of the event and the need for all qualified teams to participate.
The U.S. U17 Men's Freestyle Team has already been selected and is set to compete at the World Championships. The wrestling federation had restricted the trials to medal winners at the recent U17 National Championship.
The delay in visa approvals poses a significant threat to the Indian wrestlers' participation in the U17 World Championships. With the event drawing near, the WFI is working to resolve the matter and ensure that the young athletes have the opportunity to compete.
