Kolkata: Indian coach Jeevanjyot Singh Teja said that the country’s women’s compound archery team could not participate in the first World Cup Phase-1 competition of the session held in the US due to delay in the visa, which deprived the team medal. In 2024, the world’s top ranked Indian women’s compound team won all three gold medals. Its three members – world champions Aditi Swamy, Madhura Dhamangaonkar and Taniparti Chikitha – did not get US visa on time. As a result, he was unable to participate in the competition held at Orburnedale, Florida. Apart from this, Teja himself could not go to America. Our women’s team had 100 percent likely to win this tournament.
We won all three gold medals in the World Cup held in Shanghai, Yachione and Antalya last year. But unfortunately due to the delay in the visa, we could not retain our title this time. Harvinder Singh played an important role in winning India’s first Paralympic archery medal (bronze) in Tokyo in 2021. He was also present when Harvinder won the historic gold medal at the Paris Paralympics last year. The Indian Archery Association (AAI) applied for a visa three months ago. Three months ago we were selected test and soon after the team’s announcement we applied for the US visa. We knew about ‘Special’. Despite the efforts of the American Embassy and later the Sports Ministry, the visa was released on April 8, while the compound competition had started by that time.
Visa received after competition started
But only 14 members were granted visa after repeated visa delays. AAI also issued an appeal on Instagram in this regard. Later visa was granted due to intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs. However, two in nine were refused to give visas. Seven others, including three women compound archers, were granted visas on 8 April on the day of the competition began. Once the competition started once, there was no point in sending three compound archers. AAI Assistant Secretary Gunjan Abrol told us that his tickets should be canceled.
Great disappointment! Players missed the US competition and medal due to lack of visas; Jeevanjyot Singh Teja regretted
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