Statement: India’s withdrawal from youth championships

During the last week, 18 athletes and coaches from India’s planned 35-person delegation to the World Archery Youth Championships in Yankton were denied visas to enter the USA. 

The majority of those denied visas were athletes. 

World Archery was informed that the reason given for the withdrawal was a failure to provide the requisite information to prove the trip was for a short stay. 

As a result, the entire Indian delegation withdrew from the event. 

World Archery deeply regrets the situation, particularly for the young Indian athletes who have been training for the competition for the past months. It is unfortunate and saddening that this effort will not be seen on the competition field due to administrative or communication difficulties. 

During the opening ceremony at the event, World Archery Secretary General sent best wishes on behalf of everyone in Yankton to the Indian athletes, saying he hoped to see them on the field soon, competing with the same athletes. 

Since the initial visa rejection was reported, the Yankton 2015 organising committee and World Archery contacted authorities in the USA and India in an attempt to resolve the issue but nothing could be done in the short timespan before the competition. 

World Archery makes every effort to ensure visas are easily obtainable for its international events. 

An evaluation of this situation with all parties involved will be undertaken to investigate how it might be avoided in future.