📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vyacheslav Argenberg
Sports
Karnataka Athletes Heading to Asian Games Stumble Over Visa Issues
✍️ Deccan Herald
🗓 15 Sep 2026, 11:16 AM
👁 9
A group of Karnataka athletes selected for the Asian Games are encountering delays in obtaining visas, threatening their participation.
A contingent of athletes from Karnataka, chosen to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, is facing unexpected hurdles in securing the required travel visas. The delay has raised concerns among sports officials about the team’s ability to reach the competition on schedule.
State sports authorities reported that the visa applications submitted by the athletes have been held up at the Indian embassy, with no clear timeline for clearance. Officials said they are in constant contact with the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite the process, but procedural bottlenecks persist.
If the visas are not issued promptly, the affected athletes could miss the opening ceremony and early events, potentially diminishing Karnataka’s medal prospects. The Karnataka Olympic Association has urged the central government to intervene and ensure that all paperwork is processed before the departure deadline.
The situation underscores the logistical challenges Indian sportspersons often encounter ahead of major international tournaments, highlighting the need for smoother coordination between sports bodies and diplomatic channels.
State sports authorities reported that the visa applications submitted by the athletes have been held up at the Indian embassy, with no clear timeline for clearance. Officials said they are in constant contact with the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite the process, but procedural bottlenecks persist.
If the visas are not issued promptly, the affected athletes could miss the opening ceremony and early events, potentially diminishing Karnataka’s medal prospects. The Karnataka Olympic Association has urged the central government to intervene and ensure that all paperwork is processed before the departure deadline.
The situation underscores the logistical challenges Indian sportspersons often encounter ahead of major international tournaments, highlighting the need for smoother coordination between sports bodies and diplomatic channels.