(TibetanReview.net, Oct16’26) – India has been forced to withdraw a weightlifter belonging to Arunachal Pradesh from the upcoming Senior World Weightlifting Championships to be held in Ningbo after Chinese authorities indicated that he would be issued a visa stapled on a piece of paper, rather than a regular one stamped on his Indian passport. This was meant to suggest that China does not recognise India’s sovereignty over the state, which it claims is part of Tibet, a territory under its occupation rule since the 1950s.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) withdrew his name after the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASS) in New Delhi sought an undertaking from it confirming Charu Pesi’s acceptance of a stapled visa, reported the timesofindia.com Oct 16.
The IWLF consulted government officials, which maintained that India does not recognise stapled visas issued by China to residents of Arunachal Pradesh. The federation subsequently decided against sending the men’s 65kg lifter to the championships, which begin on Oct 24.
The report further said an eight-member Indian squad, led by Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu, was scheduled to compete in Ningbo, with visa processing for the rest of the contingent continuing as usual.
Beijing’s practice of issuing visas stapled on a piece of paper to Arunachal Pradesh residents reflects its refusal to recognise India’s sovereignty over the region, which it claims is Zangnan (southern Tibet). India has consistently rejected the practice, viewing it as a challenge to its territorial integrity.
Earlier, in Jul 2023, three Arunachal Pradesh wushu athletes, Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu, were issued stapled visas for the Summer World University Games in Chengdu. India protested and withdrew its entire wushu contingent.
The dispute resurfaced ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games later that year, when the athletes from the state faced entry and accreditation hurdles, preventing them from competing, the report noted.
The latest development is a bitter setback for Pesi. The championship would have offered valuable international exposure, with crucial ranking points at stake in the qualification race for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the report noted.