Asian Games 2023: Anurag Thakur cancels China trip after 3 athletes from Arunachal denied entry

India has officially registered its protest against China’s decision to deny entry to three Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games, leading to the cancellation of India’s Union Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur’s, official visit to China.

Addressing the media, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, expressed India’s rejection of the differential treatment accorded to Indian citizens based on their place of origin and emphasized that this action violates the spirit of the Asian Games.

MEA says Union sports minister Anurag Thakur cancels visit to China for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou after Chinese authorities denied accreditation & entry to some sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh to the Games.

(file photo) pic.twitter.com/xTRUZbfH5F

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023

Bagchi stated, “Consistent with our enduring stance, India firmly opposes the unequal treatment of its citizens based on their place of origin or ethnicity. Arunachal Pradesh has always been, is, and will forever remain an integral and indivisible part of India”.

He further highlighted that India had lodged a strong protest in both New Delhi and Beijing against China’s deliberate and selective obstruction of certain Indian athletes, a move that not only contravenes the principles of the Asian Games but also violates the rules governing athlete conduct, which explicitly prohibit discrimination against competitors from member states.

The three Wushu players—Onilu Tega, Nyeman Wangsu, and Mepung Lamgu—had received accreditation cards from the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC), which serve as entry visas. However, they encountered difficulties in downloading their travel documents on the day they were scheduled to depart for Hangzhou.

Former Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju voiced his condemnation of China’s actions on the microblogging site, X (formerly known as Twitter), highlighting that such behavior not only contradicts the principles of fair play in sports but also violates the established regulations of the Asian Games.

He added, “Arunachal Pradesh is not a disputed territory but an integral part of India. The entire people of Arunachal Pradesh firmly reject any illegitimate claim by China over its territory and people. The International Olympic Committee should rein in China’s illegitimate actions”.

China has denied India’s claims

Wei Jizhong, Chairman of the OCA’s Ethics Committee, refuted India’s assertion that China had denied visas to the players. He stated, “I don’t think this is an OCA problem because China has an agreement to allow all athletes who have been certified as eligible to come and compete in China. This is clear. Visas have already been granted”.