China denies Arunachal athletes accreditation again, for Asian Games: A look at Beijing’s long record

In 2016, Bamang Tago, who was a manager for the Indian badminton team, was denied a Chinese visa. Tago had been appointed manager of the Indian team for the Thaihot China Open badminton championship held at Fuzhou that year.

The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center stadium is seen during a light show, ahead of the Asian Games. (Reuters photo)

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When Indian wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh were denied accreditation and offered stapled visas for the Asian Games, it wasn’t the first time that China was being discriminatory towards athletes from the North-Eastern state.

In 2016, Bamang Tago, who was a manager for the Indian badminton team, was denied a Chinese visa. Tago had been appointed manager of the Indian team for the Thaihot China Open badminton championship held at Fuzhou that year.

All 12 players received their visas, except the team manager, who was also secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Badminton Association, despite submitting documents to the embassy days in advance.

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Earlier in July this year, three wushu players, Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu, were first delayed and then given stapled visas before travelling to Chengdu for the World University Games. India pulled out its entire wushu squad from the Games in protest.

Explained | What is a stapled visa, and why does China issue these to Indians from Arunachal and J&K?

People from Arunachal Pradesh – be it government officials, bureaucrats or sportspersons – have faced similar trouble securing valid visas for China as it issues stapled visas to avoid recognising them as citizens of India.

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India’s chef-de-mission for the Asian Games Bhupendra Singh Bajwa with Indian athletes at the Games Village in Hangzhou, China, on Friday. (PTI)

Also Read | China’s Asian Games ambitions: To top the medal pile, to show it has bounced back from the pandemic and to flex its economic and geopolitical muscle

In 2011, a 45-member Indian karate team was to travel to Quangzhou for an Asian Championship. Most of them got their visas days in advance except five members – three players and two officials – from Arunachal, who were stopped at the IGI Airport in New Delhi after the Chinese Embassy issued them stapled visas.

That same year, a weightlifting federation official and lifter from the same state, bound for a grand prix, missed out after being given stapled visas.

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Two young archers from Arunachal headed to the Youth World Archery championships met the same fate.

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