India at Paris Olympics: Reetika Hooda's Preparations Hit Snag, Personal Coaches Struggle to Get Visas

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Indian wrestler Reetika Hooda, the first woman from the country to qualify in the heavyweight 76kg division for the Paris Olympics 2024, is facing an unexpected hurdle in her preparations.

While other qualified wrestlers have received approval for their coaches to travel with them, Reetika's request for her coach Mandeep's visa remains stuck.

As per a report by PTI, in May, Reetika submitted a request to the Indian Olympic Association -- IOA -- for permission to have both her coach and physio accompany her to the Games.

A similar request was sent to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in June. However, her pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

"I was surprised to see that everyone has been assigned travel with a personal coach," Reetika was quoted as saying by PTI. "Antim [Panghal] has been sanctioned both her coaches and I have not been given even one."

Highlighting the inconsistency, she added, "When I had applied, a few days after that I was told that no one is being allowed to travel with a personal coach but now I see that everyone has been allowed except me."

This preferential treatment is evident when looking at the support staff arrangements for other wrestlers. Vinesh Phogat will travel with her Belgian coach Woller Akos, while Antim Panghal will have her coaches Bhagat Singh and Vikas by her side (Vikas is also traveling as her sparring partner). Anshu Malik (57kg) will have her father Dharamvir as her coach, and Amir will travel with Nisha Dahiya (68kg). The lone male wrestler, Aman Sehrawat, will be accompanied by Ali Shabanov in Paris.

Delays and Missed Communication from the IOA

With the wrestling competition starting on August 5th, this bureaucratic delay is causing undue stress for Reetika. "Instead of practicing and focusing on my preparations, I have spent my day talking to IOA officials," she revealed. "I spoke to PT Usha madam, and CEO Raghuram Iyer too. They are saying they will try," she further added.

The situation becomes even more perplexing when examining the IOA's explanation. Ajay Narang, who handles IOA President PT Usha's office, claims Reetika's request never reached them due to a forwarding error. "Somehow this e-mail was not forwarded to the right people," he stated.

He further advised Reetika to apply for her coach's visa directly, with the IOA offering to request expedited processing from the French embassy.

However, this solution seems incomplete. The French embassy requires a recommendation letter from the IOA for the visa application to be considered. As of now, the IOA has not issued this crucial document.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is also frustrated by the situation.

WFI President Sanjay Singh expressed his surprise at the delay in the recommendation letter. "I am surprised that she has not been given the recommendation letter as yet," he said.

He has already spoken to IOA officials and intends to follow up again to expedite the process. "This is not the time when she should be struggling with all this," Singh emphasized.

Mandeep, Reetika's coach, has also taken initiative by reaching out to the Reliance Foundation, which has already provided Reetika with physio Shruti Gharat.

The Foundation's assistance is focused on securing the visa application. "Everyone is asking for the invitation letter and recommendation letter," Mandeep explained. "They are asking for details that only IOA can provide. We don't know what to do," he added.

This incident is not an isolated case. Similar issues have plagued the archery team, where coaches are struggling to secure a place within the Games Village. The masseur for the boxing team is also facing difficulties and may have to be accommodated outside the Village.

Reetika Hooda's situation highlights a need for smoother communication and a more streamlined process within the IOA to ensure all athletes competing in the Olympics receive the support they deserve. With the Games rapidly approaching, timely resolution is critical to allow Reetika to focus on what matters most - achieving her Olympic dream.