Oh, India, look what you made them do.
The World Wrestling Body has officially asked all national federations to suspend dealing at all with India.
And just to clarify, we’re not talking about World Wrestling Entertainment,
The World Wrestling Body is an association that ‘acts in favour of the practice of wrestling, in the spirit of its traditions and in accordance with the requirements of the Olympic Charter.’
The United World Wrestling (UWW), has officially asked all of its international federations to stop all current and further discussions with India.
Following the attacks in Pulwama, Kashmir, tensions between Pakistan and India reached an all-time high in the span of the last forty plus years. What began as petty pokes on social media ended up with Narendra Modi and Imran Khan going at each other with our Armed Forces.
In one instance, amidst this animosity, India decided to deny visas to two Pakistani shooters who were coming to India to compete in the Delhi World Cup.
Once news of this denial reached the International Olympic Committee, all discussions involving India were immediately suspended and their chances at hosting the Olympics or any global event for that matter were denied.
The Committee stated that India’s actions towards Pakistani athletes went directly against the Olympic charter and its beliefs. Because the World Wrestling Body has the same charter as followed by the Olympic committee, it should come as no surprise that the ban is being put in effect.
A kind of ‘Sports isolation’ method is being put into place and people all over social media have been talking about it.
World wrestling body asks all national federations to suspend dealing with India due to BJP'S decision in the wake of refusing visa to Pakistani shooters. It's shameful for India
— Mandeep Singh (@MandeepRawalwas) March 5, 2019
Wrestling fans and followers in India have been speaking to the ban and how this could be extremely detrimental for Indian wrestling.
Dragging the political tension into the sports arena costs heavily for the Indian wrestlers.After the visa denial to the Pakistani shooters United World Wrestling has asked all the national federations to stop communication with the Wrestling Federation of India.
— Rajdeep Deb (@idrrajdeep) March 6, 2019
World Wrestling Body (United World Wrestling) calls all federations under it to suspend all ties with India in the wake of International Olympic Committee's hauling up of India.
They rejected Visas of 2 Pakistani shooters with the intent of 'isolating Pakistan'. Sigh!
— Nawab Rashid Khan (@Rashidkhansial) March 5, 2019
With AIBA 'reportedly' taking away hosting rights of 2020 Asia-Oceania Oly boxing qualifiers & UWW asking all natl feds under it to stop communication with the Ind wrestling body, intl pressure on India grows after IOC decision to stall all talks following no visa to Pak shooters
— Jaspreet Sahni (@JaspreetSSahni) March 5, 2019
How these thekedars of patriotism are forcing India to score SELF-GOALS!
"India can suffer SPORTS ISOLATION 'cos of denial of visas to Pakistani wrestlers"
After shooting…it's wrestling, cricket, hockey…Where'll it end?#SayNoToWar #SportsForPeacehttps://t.co/9rl5oFDsSr
— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) March 6, 2019
The politicizing of sports has been around for quite some time and though it can be extremely problematic, in terms such as these, however, it may be the only way to get the Indian population to stop ostracizing Pakistanis in areas where politics are completely irrelevant.
Have you seen the news? Are you a wrestling fan? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Cover photo source: HappyWalaGift/Digital TV Europe