India bars Chinese wrestlers because of coronavirus outbreak

FILE – Jahongir Turdiev (top) of Uzbekistan competes against Uzur Dzhuzupbekov of Kyrgyzstan during the men’s Greco-Roman style 97kg wrestling competition at the 2019 Wrestling Senior Asian Championships in Xian in China’s northern Shaanxi province on April 28, 2019. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT

Chinese wrestlers will be unable to take part in the Asian Championships in New Delhi this week after being denied visas because of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said

India’s government has suspended e-visas for Chinese nationals due to the deadly virus that has claimed more than 1,800 lives since spreading from its epicenter in the central city of Wuhan.

“They are not coming. Of course, health concerns remain a big reason and the coronavirus outbreak is deadly,” Wrestling Federation of India assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told AFP.

A Chinese Federation spokesperson was quoted as saying on the governing body’s United World Wrestling (UWW) website: “The wrestlers are disappointed for sure.”

Japanese world champions Kenichiro Fumita and Risako Kawai are among top wrestlers taking part.

India’s sports minister Kiren Rijiju said the denial of visas would not normally be allowed but there were exceptions for an extraordinary health crisis.

“We can’t deny visa to citizens of any country because it is a part of the Olympic charter. We try to keep sports away from politics,” Rijiju told reporters.

“But where there is health concern or any technical issue, there are separate provisions for that.”

The Asian Championships, which provide UWW ranking points that count towards seedings at this year’s Tokyo Olympics, begin Tuesday and run until February 23.