Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A 10-member Indian junior boxing team has withdrawn from the Youth World Cup in Montenegro due to logistical logjams arising out of the conflict in west Asia.According to sources, the boxers couldn’t secure their stamped passports in time from the authorities, resulting in their no-show at the World Boxing (WB)-sanctioned event in Budva from March 3 to 11.
Since Montenegro does not have an embassy in India, the BFI processed the visas through the Montenegro Embassy in the UAE, it’s been learnt. “As per the visa procedure, physical passport submission was required for stamping, and all passports including that of five boys and five girls who were part of the squad were sent to the UAE. In previous instances, the stamped passports were usually returned within two-three days,” the source said.“However, due to sudden political developments in the Middle East, the passports — despite already having the visas stamped — could not be dispatched back to India in time. As a result, the 10-member Indian youth contingent was unable to travel to Montenegro for the tournament. The BFI remained in constant touch with the Montenegro authorities as well as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),” the source added.It’s been learnt that the passports for visa stamping were submitted on Feb 20 and flight tickets were kept on standby. “Visas were confirmed through an email,” the source said.
