Visa Issues Resolved for 25 Indian Athletes Ahead of Asian Championships in Korea: AFI

The visa concerns affecting 25 Indian athletes scheduled to compete in the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, have been resolved, ensuring the full contingent’s timely arrival, a top Athletics Federation of India (AFI) official confirmed on Thursday.

The continental championship, set to take place from May 27 to 31, will feature a 59-member Indian team, comprising many of the country’s top athletic talents. The AFI had earlier expressed concerns over pending visa approvals, but those hurdles have now been cleared.

“All the visa issues have been sorted. The athletes will reach South Korea in time for the competition,” the AFI official said.

Notably, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra will not participate in the event. His absence, however, comes as no surprise, as the star javelin thrower has prioritized his preparation for the Diamond League Meetings and the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.

With the travel concerns resolved, the Indian contingent will now look to make a strong impact at the Asian Championships, aiming to build momentum ahead of the global athletics calendar.