Visa Debacle: Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku's name missing from draw

"If #India Government doesn't allow my participation at #Women #World Championship #NewDelhi2018, because of Visa issue I will consider quitting my future in boxing," the Kosovo Olympic Committee (NOC Kosovo) tweeted quoting boxer from their country Donjeta Sadiku as saying.

The pugilist has been denied visa by India, as New Delhi does not recognise Kosovo, to participate in the AIBA Women's World Championship to begin here on Thursday.

Her words appear to have had no impact and her chances of participating in the World Championships are virtually over as Sadiku's name does not figure in the draw, released on Wednesday.

Sadiku was to compete in the 60kg category. Two coaches from Kosovo are also waiting for their visas.

Sadiku, who also holds an Albanian passport, was expecting to receive an entry visa till Tuesday as Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh informed that "they were in talks with foreign ministry officials in Delhi over 'sensitive issue'.

"This is not about boxing alone, it's a much larger issue," Singh said. Kosovo was to be one of the nine debutants at the World Boxing Championship.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) wrote to the sports ministry to intervene in the matter as it could affect India's chances of hosting major international events in the future.

Following a similar incident, Spain has been facing International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctions over hosting any international event since it prohibited Kosovo's participants to compete under the national flag at the Karate World Championships earlier this year.

The IOC immediately sent letters to all the international federations not to award major events to Spain. IOA president Narendra Batra warned India to gear for similar backlash.

In a strongly-worded letter to the Sports ministry, Batra wrote, "It is required that immediate action is taken today by Indian authorities to make sure the athletes and delegation from Kosovo will be able to take part in the women's World Boxing Championships, and will be treated in the same conditions as any other participants without any undue discrimination in accordance with the values and principles which govern the Olympic movement worldwide."

The IOA president added that not granting visa to the lone Kosovo boxer could lead to the IOC asking all the international federations not to award major events to India.

Brazil too didn't recognise the disputed South Eastern Europe state but did allow Kosovo to participate in 2016 Rio Games.

A senior official from Sports ministry did recognise the threat of losing international events after the latest goof up. "I share IOA president's concern as India is in danger of losing big events. We might also get a letter from the IOC soon. That's how it stands at the moment," a senior official told DNA on Wednesday.

Batra mentioned instances where local organisers/ host countries of major international sports events allowed the participation of athletes from countries/territories that they did not recognise at a political level.

"International sports organisations cannot accept a situation where a host country unilaterally forbids the participation of certain athletes from other countries/territories on political grounds. Otherwise, this will threaten the fundamental principles of Olympic Movement," Batra wrote in his letter.

Kosovo was inducted as a full member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2014 and its athletes were allowed to participate at the 2016 Rio Games. A professional boxer, Sadiku, and her two coaches have been denied entry to India to compete in the World Championship.

India's foreign ministry does not recognise Balkan country, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Kosovan boxers were also denied entry in the Youth World Championships held in Guwahati last year for the same reason.

The Controversy

• India denied visa to Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku, as New Delhi does not recognise Kosovo, to pariticipate in the AIBA Women’s World Championship 
• Sadiku was to compete in the 60kg category. Two coaches from Kosovo are also waiting for their visas

IOA To Sports Min

• “It is required that immediate action is taken by Indian authorities to make sure the delegation from Kosovo will be able to take part in the championships” 
• The fast-escalating matter could affect India’s chances of hosting major international events in the future