The Indian government has declined to issue visas to the Pakistan Women’s Netball team, barring them from competing in the 13th Asian Netball Championship set to start on October 18 in Bengaluru.
This move has raised concerns about politicization in sports, as India has yet to grant visas to the Pakistan team despite their readiness to participate.
India announced the tournament’s lineup without including Pakistan, effectively excluding the team due to its stringent policies toward Pakistani athletes.
In response, Pakistan’s Netball Federation (PNF) criticized both Asian and World Netball governing bodies for not addressing the national team’s exclusion.
PNF President Mudassar Arain stated, “Visa applications were submitted three weeks ago, but we’ve received no response from Indian authorities despite multiple reminders.” The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had already issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the team’s participation.
