Itanagar, Sep 27 (Representative) Amid a harrowing experience, three immensely talented athletes and medal prospects from Arunachal Pradesh who were a part of the Indian Wushu team at the 19th Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou but unfortunately couldn’t show their prowess to the world, returned home on Tuesday to a warm welcome. The three dejected Wushu players Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu, who were barred from participation in the Asian Games due to denial of regular visa following China’s territorial ‘disputes’ over India’s Arunachal Pradesh, were accorded a warm reception at Naharlagun railway station near here by the All Arunachal Wushu Players’ Association and well-wishers. Speaking to the reporters, Nyeman narrated how the three of them had been training hard for the Asian Games. “We started our Wushu journey in the year 2014. We did a lot of hard work, even during Covid-19 pandemic we did not go home and continued our practice. Since 2022 we have been busy attending coaching camps for Asian Games at Patiala, Srinagar and Meerut,” she said. Nyeman had received her accreditation, which acts as visa, but was sent back from the airport, saying that the visa was cancelled by the Chinese authority. “I was shocked beyond belief because I did not expect that something like this could happen,” she said. The young player, despite her ordeal, is not ready to bow down.
“We will not stop here. National Games and many other opportunities are coming which we will definitely participate in,” she said. She, however, expressed apprehension that something similar like this might happen to them in future as well. Nyeman expressed gratitude to everyone for supporting them during this hour of distress. Mepung said that since the Asian Games is considered as one of the biggest championships she along with her teammates had dreamt of participating in it. “We had dreamt about it. If we had gone and participated, we would have definitely returned with medals and made you all people proud,” she affirmed. She stated that though this situation has happened earlier as well but they kept on believing that by the time they get to participate, the problem would be solved. “We kept ourselves busy with our training, even sidelining our studies. But now that it has happened to us, we are uncertain about our future. We had everything with us but only because of that one card we were not able to participate,” she said. Meanwhile, Mepung appealed to the Government to come up with a ‘solution’ so that the players would not have to face the same thing in future. “It’s not that the event will never happen in China again. It will but that shouldn’t mean that our players will cease from participating in it. Please assure us that this won’t happen next time. Please assure our future,” she further added.