The Indian contingent for next month’s Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas, comprising 30-odd athletes and about half-a-dozen officials and coaches, might have a transit visa problem, with the IOA seeming to have put the process off for very late.
It was only on Monday that the national sports federations involved received a communication from IOA secretary-general, Rajeev Mehta, about the agencies to be contacted for visas and tickets.
The letter, though, assures that the expenses towards air tickets and visas would be borne by the Association.
While the visas for the Bahamas could be fast-tracked as a special case, the UK transit visas could turn out to be an issue; the recommended application time is at least five weeks ahead of the date of journey.
Plane tickets from the UK to the Bahamas could be a problem too; the flights are reportedly full for the dates concerned.
India is scheduled to compete in athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, swimming and tennis at the Commonwealth Youth Games at Nassau from July 18 to 23.
Beach volleyball, beach soccer and rugby 7s are the other events.
