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

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.