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22 of the 59 athletes in the Indian contingent faced issues with their visa permits over various reasons.
Athletics Representational Image. (AFP Photo)
Twenty-two Indian athletes, who faced issues with their visas for the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea, had their travel permits sorted on Thursday and are on track to reach the venue of the spectacle slated to begin on the 27th of May.
The Athletics Federation of India had named a 59-member contingent for the event in Gumi, with most of the star names across multiple disciplines set to feature. Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, however, will not be in action as the double Olympic medallist opted to focus on the Diamond League event in Tokyo in September.
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AFI Secretary General Sandeep Mehta stated that the efforts of the South Korean embassy was crucial in sorting out the clearences.
“We are getting the visas of the concerned athletes in the evening of Thursday through the efforts of the Sports Ministry and South Korean Embassy. The matter is sorted out,” he stated.
22 of the 59 athletes in the Indian contingent faced issues with their visa permits over various reasons. However, with the clearance set to roll in, the unit is set to reach Gumi a couple of days ahead of the beginning of the event.
“The athletes will have two to three days of acclimatisation in Korea. We have picked the best team and we are expecting 25 to 30 medals this time,” Mehta added.
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India managed to clinch a total of 27 medals including 6 gold, 12 silver, 9 bronze to finish third at the 2023 edition of the biennial event, behind table-toppers Japan and second-placed China, and the athletes representing the Indian tricolour at Gumi will eye a better haul this time out.
The Indian men’s 4x400m and 4x400m mixed teams, which failed to secure their berth at the World Championships through the World Athletics Relays earlier this month, will hope to give a solid account of themselves and earn qualification for the Worlds.
“We have also fielded teams in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, and we are hoping to qualify for the World Championships,” Mehta concluded.
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