Hangzhou: A long-standing border dispute between India and China has left three Indian martial arts competitors stranded at home and unable to make it to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, while sparking a diplomatic row Friday between the two countries.

The three women wushu athletes are from India's eastern Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety. Unlike the rest of India's athletes competing at this year's games who were given Asian Games badges that also serve as visas to enter China, the three were given visas stapled to their passports.

Olympic Council of Asia official Wei Jizhong told reporters in Hangzhou on Friday that the three athletes, Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu, had refused to accept them because they differed from those given the rest of the team.

“According to the Chinese government regulations, we have the right to give them different kind of visa,” he said.

In July, the same athletes did not compete at the World University Games in Chengdu, China, because they were given similar visas.

With the Asian Games opening ceremonies a day away, the OCA's acting director general, Vinod Kumar Tiwari, who is Indian, said officials were working to resolve the issue.

“This has been brought to our notice yesterday and we are taking up this matter with the organizing committee and will try to find a solution very quickly," he said.

But disputes over the long border between the two Asian giants run deep, with the countries fighting a war over it in 1962.

More recently, in June 2020, a clash in the Karakoram mountains in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh sparked tensions after soldiers fought with stones, fists and clubs. At least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed.

Asked about the visa issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said “China welcomes athletes from all countries” to attend the Asia Games, but also doubled down on Beijing's position.

“China doesn’t recognize the so-called Arunachal Pradesh province you mentioned,” she said. "The southern Tibetan region is part of China’s territory.”

India responded by filing a protest in New Delhi and Bejing, said Arindam Bagchi, spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, who accused China of violating “both the spirit of the Asian Games and the rules governing their conduct.”

“In line with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity,” he said. “Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.” AP

Sports Minister cancels China visit, China remains beligerent

New Delhi: After Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancelled his visit to China for the Asian Games, the Chinese government adopted a beligerent stand. 

Speaking on the denial of regular visas to athletes from Arunachal, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that China did not recognise Aruanchal. 

"You mentioned this Arunachal Pradesh, the Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh. The south Tibetan region is part of China's territory" she said.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that China was open for all athletes.

"As the host country, China welcomes athletes from all countries to come to Hangzhou with legal documents to participate in the Asian Games" she said. 

Earlier the Ministry of External affairs announced that Sports Minister Anurag Thakur is cancelling his visit to the games as a mark of protest. 

"As a mark of our protest against the Chinese action, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports of India has cancelled his scheduled visit to China for the Games. Government of India reserves the right to take suitable measures to safeguard our interest," the MEA spokesperson said.

The MEA spokesperson added that India rejects this treatment of its players by Chinese Authorities.

"Government of India has learnt that the Chinese authorities have, in a targeted and pre-meditated manner, discriminated against some of the Indian sportspersons from the state of Arunachal Pradesh by denying them accreditation and entry to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China" he said. 

Two of the Wushu players hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu who were approved to take part by the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 Organising Committee were unable to download their accreditation cards - which act as visas to enter China.

The third athlete Nyeman Wangsu, who managed to download her accreditation, was informed that she would not be allowed to travel beyond Hong Kong.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju who is also an MP from Arunachal criticised the Chinese decision to deny the athletes regular visas. 

"This violates both the spirit of Sports & also the Rules governing the conduct of Asian Games, which explicitly prohibits discrimination against competitors from member states" said Rijiju. 

"Arunachal Pradesh is not a disputed territory but an inalienable part of India. Entire people of Arunachal Pradesh resolutely oppose any illegal claim of China on it's land and people. International Olympic Committee should reign in China's illegitimate action" he added in a post on X. 

The three athletes from Arunachal were to take part in individual events of Wushu which gets underway on Sunday. (ANI)