Qwan Ki Do Athlete Faces Passport Issues, Misses International Competition
Shayra's Struggles with Passport Delays
Shayra, an athlete in Qwan Ki Do, a Vietnamese martial art, expressed her frustration over passport complications that caused her to miss an international competition. She revealed that she was responsible for covering her own travel and security expenses. After winning a national competition in Jammu, she was awarded a scholarship of ₹1.5 lakh from the Qwan Ki Do Federation of India, which secured her spot in an international event. However, she was required to pay ₹50,000 for travel and security costs herself.
Challenges in Securing Passport
Shayra explained that the delay in obtaining her passport was a significant factor in her inability to attend the competition. She was unable to apply for the passport until she turned 18, which was just days away. "I struggled to convey my situation to the Chief Minister. I felt overwhelmed and lost my composure. I won a gold medal at the national event in Jammu and was selected for the international competition. Although I received a sponsorship of ₹1.5 lakh, I still had to manage ₹50,000 for travel and security. I could only apply for my passport after turning 18, and my family members did not have passports to use as an alternative. When I finally visited the passport office after my birthday, I was informed that the process would take at least 20 days, which meant I would miss the deadline entirely," she shared.
Support from School Principal
Ribaka Singh, the principal of CNI Girls Inter College, stated that the school was unaware of Shayra's situation but expressed willingness to assist her in the future. She mentioned that the school would have supported Shayra if Qwan Ki Do were part of their sports curriculum. "What Shayra experienced is a personal matter. She does not practice this sport at our school, but she is a commendable student and actively participates in sports like basketball. We appreciate her achievements, including her gold medal. Once we learned about her circumstances, we decided to offer our help. We will support her in any way we can once she graduates. This situation was not known to us earlier; otherwise, we would have intervened sooner," she assured.