Is the US a responsible host? How could this happen?

[Pa in Taiwan]

The US Embassy in New Delhi denied visas to nine Indian wrestlers ahead of the 2026 U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. 9 out of 16 wrestlers who applied in the initial group (covering Greco-Roman and women's wrestling categories) were denied visas. The U.S. Embassy verbally cited that the athletes were under 20 years of age and lacked formal employment or corporate jobs, labeling them as potential "ordinary overstays". The decision affected nearly half of India's Greco-Roman squad and key women competitors—including 2024 U17 World Champion Neha Sangwan—causing an outcry from the Wrestling Federation of India and intervention appeals to United World Wrestling. The Wrestling Federation of India strongly condemned the decision by the U.S. Embassy and immediately launched multiple efforts to resolve the situation. In an official appeal letter to the U.S. Embassy, the WFI argued that the championship is explicitly designed for the Under-23 age group (athletes aged 18 to 23). The federation pointed out that it is entirely natural for elite young athletes to focus exclusively on full-time training rather than seeking corporate jobs or formal employment at this stage in their careers. The WFI formally wrote to United World Wrestling (UWW). In response, UWW President Nenad Lalovic intervened by directly contacting the U.S. authorities and writing a letter to support the Indian contingent. WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar stated that the federation worked right up to the start of the tournament to secure emergency re-interviews, particularly attempting to utilize a final two-day window to clear the women’s squad before their bouts began. Despite these actions and brief optimism when passports were temporarily re-accepted for review, the visa denials stood for the final tournament roster. 

Note: It's a good thing that Jaskaran is 21 or 22.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18 by Pa in Taiwan

[WrestlingRash]

perhaps had the previous administration had an anything goes policy for illegal immigration, the response wouldn't have to be so harsh. that just one of the costs of nation building and maintenance. not a big deal at all. I bet you had no problem at all with Russians being banned. 

[1032004]

2 hours ago, WrestlingRash said:

I bet you had no problem at all with Russians being banned. 

Did the US do that, or UWW?

[Pa in Taiwan]

4 hours ago, WrestlingRash said:

perhaps had the previous administration had an anything goes policy for illegal immigration, the response wouldn't have to be so harsh. that just one of the costs of nation building and maintenance. not a big deal at all. I bet you had no problem at all with Russians being banned. 

Wrong again. I had big issues with the Russians being banned. I had big issues with them being forced to compete under ridiculous names like "UWW" or "AIN" (Athletes Indivuduels Neutres / Individual Neutral Athletes). I also had serious issues with the American government forcing Iranian soccer players to shuttle between Mexico and the US during the World Cup. The US and Israel illegally attacked Iran in February of this year, and yet I also oppose removing Americans from international wrestling competitions. Your argument about the Biden Administration's policies about illegal immigration - is it meant as some kind of apologetics for this current issue, in which excellent, young wrestlers lost a year of eligibility because of some bureaucratic f***-up by the US Embassy in India? I opposed the Biden Administration's open borders policy, AND I'm smoking mad about this screw up. And I'm shocked that more right-thinking Americans aren't joining me in speaking out against this travesty. I called Christian Pyles out on it in a YouTube comment, and he ran away like a sissy, saying that I should make the video about it. That is irresponsible journalism in the extreme. 

[RAFWiki]

7 minutes ago, Pa in Taiwan said:

I called Christian Pyles out on it in a YouTube comment, and he ran away like a sissy, saying that I should make the video about it. That is irresponsible journalism in the extreme. 

Basch and Willie at least talked about the India wrestler's visa situation on-air.

I was more offended by Flo only taking approximately 10 seconds in a recent broadcast to mention Amit Elor's hospitalization. 

[Pa in Taiwan]

2 hours ago, RAFWiki said:

Basch and Willie at least talked about the India wrestler's visa situation on-air.

I was more offended by Flo only taking approximately 10 seconds in a recent broadcast to mention Amit Elor's hospitalization. 

I would expect no less from Willie, as he seems to have some integrity. I was hopeful that Christian Pyles would respond positively and say that Flo would make, or had made, a video about the situation. His retort that I should make the video shows him for what he is, a US-centric, sellout journalist with no integrity, something that is a requisite in the sport of wrestling. I also called out Meisinger for saying on video that he believed that Bo Bassett deliberately threw the match in order to motivate him for Worlds. Watch their recap video about the U23 tournament. Neither Pyles nor Tyler Meisinger were even able to recall the name of the Indian wrestler who beat Bo Bassett, Jaksaran Singh. I also called Pyles out on that. It is the epitome of unprofessionalism and just total lack of respect for a guy who beat one of the US's best up and coming freestylers. 

[1032004]

1 hour ago, Pa in Taiwan said:

I also called out Meisinger for saying on video that he believed that Bo Bassett deliberately threw the match in order to motivate him for Worlds.

This was obviously sarcasm 

[WrestlingRash]

10 hours ago, Pa in Taiwan said:

Wrong again. I had big issues with the Russians being banned. I had big issues with them being forced to compete under ridiculous names like "UWW" or "AIN" (Athletes Indivuduels Neutres / Individual Neutral Athletes). I also had serious issues with the American government forcing Iranian soccer players to shuttle between Mexico and the US during the World Cup. The US and Israel illegally attacked Iran in February of this year, and yet I also oppose removing Americans from international wrestling competitions. Your argument about the Biden Administration's policies about illegal immigration - is it meant as some kind of apologetics for this current issue, in which excellent, young wrestlers lost a year of eligibility because of some bureaucratic f***-up by the US Embassy in India? I opposed the Biden Administration's open borders policy, AND I'm smoking mad about this screw up. And I'm shocked that more right-thinking Americans aren't joining me in speaking out against this travesty. I called Christian Pyles out on it in a YouTube comment, and he ran away like a sissy, saying that I should make the video about it. That is irresponsible journalism in the extreme. 

I respect your consistency and appreciate your stance. There should be an easy override function for these bad situations, but that would be expecting logic from the government which would be foolish. 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

* keep in mind that there is a good chance that the ages of the Indian athletes may have been falsified