New Delhi: The Archery Association of India on Friday pulled out of the World Youth Archery Championships in the US after 21 of its 31-member team were denied visas on apprehensions that they would not return to India.
Livid over the US embassy’s decision, the AAI decided to withdraw from the event in Yankton, South Dakota as a mark of protest. Apart from the archers, India’s well-travelled Korean coach Chae Wom Lim was also refused visa by the US embassy here.
“We have decided to withdraw the team from this tournament as a mark of protest. This was decided by AAI President Vijay Kumar Malhotra even though we had reapplied for visas,” Archery Association of India treasurer Virender Sachdeva said.
The Indian contingent, of under-20 boys and girls, were scheduled to leave for the US on Saturday for the June 8-14 event. But the US embassy here granted visa only to a few.
