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Why Pakistan's Fencing Team is Skipping the Asian Championships in India

In a significant development, Pakistan's fencing team has opted out of the Asian Fencing Championships set to be held in India. The decision stems from concerns over the lack of guarantees regarding visas and security for the athletes. Usman Ahmad, the secretary of the Pakistan Fencing Federation, highlighted the responsibility of the event organizers to ensure safety and proper visa arrangements. Despite attempts to secure these assurances, the federation received no response, leading to the withdrawal. This situation raises questions about the impact of strained relations between the two nations on sports events.
By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 5, 2026, 18:10 IST

Pakistan Withdraws from Asian Fencing Championships


Lahore: The Pakistani fencing team has announced its decision to withdraw from the upcoming Asian Fencing Championships scheduled to take place in India.


Usman Ahmad, the secretary of the Pakistan Fencing Federation, expressed concerns regarding the lack of guarantees for visas and security for the athletes while in India.

"We opted out of the championship due to the absence of these essential assurances," Usman stated.


The event is set to occur in New Delhi from June 18 to 24.


He emphasized that it is the duty of the event organizers to secure necessary government approvals and provide assurances regarding the safety and visa arrangements for the players.


"We reached out to the organizing committee and the Indian Fencing Association on two occasions to obtain these guarantees, but unfortunately, we did not receive any response," he added.


Usman further mentioned that without the necessary guarantees, it would be futile to proceed with visa applications or any preparations for the team's participation.

"It is crucial for the Asian and World sports governing bodies to address this issue, as the current strained relations between the two nations make participation impossible without proper security and assurances from the relevant authorities," he concluded.