{"id":33707,"date":"2026-10-07T12:28:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=33707"},"modified":"2026-10-07T12:28:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:28:58","slug":"below-20-and-unemployed-indian-wrestlers-denied-us-visas-ahead-of-u23-world-championships-wfi-seeks-review-more-sports-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=33707","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Below 20 and unemployed&#8217;: Indian wrestlers denied US visas ahead of U23 World Championships; WFI seeks review | More sports News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134765407,imgsize-88342,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/representative-image.jpg\" alt=\"'Below 20 and unemployed': Indian wrestlers denied US visas ahead of U23 World Championships; WFI seeks review\" title=\"Representative image\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Several Indian wrestlers, including 2024 U17 World Champion Neha Sangwan, have been refused US visas, putting their participation in the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas from October 12 to 18 in doubt.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>The wrestlers were verbally told that their visa applications had been refused because they were below 20 years of age and unemployed. Their passports were returned when they appeared for their visa interviews at the US Embassy on Wednesday.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has urged the US Embassy in New Delhi to reconsider the cases. It has also requested the Embassy to grant visas to the wrestlers who are scheduled to appear for their appointments on Thursday.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>According to a letter sent by the WFI to the US Embassy, nine wrestlers were refused visas on Wednesday.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>&#8220;Today, 24 participants appeared at the Embassy for their visa appointments, out of which 16 were wrestlers. Unfortunately, 09 wrestlers were refused visas, reportedly due to their employment status and are below 20 years of age,&#8221; the WFI said in its letter, as quoted by news agency PTI.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/>The federation pointed out that the upcoming championship is for the U23 age group and the participating wrestlers are between 18 and 23 years of age.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>&#8220;Accordingly, many of these young athletes are understandably still pursuing their sporting careers and are not formally employed,&#8221; the WFI said, while requesting the Embassy to reconsider the refused applications.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>The wrestlers named in the WFI communication include Samarth Gajanan Mhakave, Dheeraj Kumar Malik, Sachin Kumar, Nikhil, Hardeep, Parveen, Ahilya Shatrughn Shinde, <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/neha-sharma\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Neha Sharma<\/a> and Neha Sangwan.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>The federation also raised concerns about the wrestlers scheduled for their visa appointments on Thursday, saying most of them are also currently unemployed and below 20 years of age.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/>&#8220;We are deeply concerned about the remaining wrestlers who are scheduled to appear for their visa appointments tomorrow, as most of them are also currently unemployed and below 20 years of age,&#8221; the WFI said.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/more-sports\/wrestling\/below-20-and-unemployed-indian-wrestlers-denied-us-visas-ahead-of-u23-world-championships-wfi-questions-decision\/articleshow\/134764777.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Several Indian wrestlers, including 2024 U17 World Champion Neha Sangwan, have been refused US visas, putting their participation in the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas from October 12 to 18 in doubt.The wrestlers were verbally told that their visa applications had been refused because they were below 20 years of age and unemployed. 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