Hong Kong, China | U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026

In a deeply troubling development on the eve of one of Asia’s most prestigious junior athletics championships, 23 members of India’s contingent for the U20 Asian Athletics Championships in Hong Kong have been sent back from the airport after their visa applications were marked “Unsuccessful.” Among those affected are two of India’s most decorated and high-profile junior athletes — reigning Asian High Jump champion Pooja and U20 World No. 2 long jumper Shahnavaz Khan.

The championships begin tomorrow.

What Happened

India had assembled a formidable 64-member contingent for the U20 Asian Athletics Championships. Of those, 41 members successfully received their Pre-Arrival Registration Slips and are cleared to travel. However, the remaining 23 members found their applications marked “Unsuccessful” during the visa process — and were turned back from the airport before they could board their flights to Hong Kong.

The timing could not be more damaging. Athletes who have spent months preparing for these championships, peaking their training and sharpening their form, now face an agonising wait while the issue is resolved — if it can be resolved in time.

The Athletes Most Affected

The two names that stand out most painfully are Pooja, the reigning Asian High Jump champion who was expected to defend her title, and Shahnavaz Khan, currently ranked World No. 2 in the U20 long jump this season. For Pooja, this is a defence of a continental title. For Shahnavaz, it is a chance to convert one of the world’s best junior marks into championship gold. Both athletes now face the real possibility of missing the competition entirely through no fault of their own.

Their preparation, their form, their ambitions — all of it hostage to administrative paperwork.

A Partial Reprieve for Day 1 Athletes

There is some relief for a small number of affected athletes. Three competitors due to compete on Day 1 of the championships — Jashanpreet Singh (400m Hurdles), Piyush Raj (400m), and Tahura Khatun (400m) — have received their visas today and are scheduled to travel at 7:45 AM and 8:00 AM. They will arrive in time to compete, provided no further complications arise.

But for the other 20 athletes still without clearance, the race against time is far more uncertain.

A Crisis That Should Not Have Happened

The U20 Asian Athletics Championships is not a last-minute invitation. The fixture has been on the international calendar for months. Visa applications, pre-arrival registrations, and travel logistics for a 64-member team require coordination that should have begun long in advance. That 23 athletes found themselves at an airport with nowhere to go — some of them title contenders and world-ranked juniors — raises serious questions about the preparation and oversight of India’s travel arrangements for this trip.

Athletics Federation of India and relevant officials will face tough scrutiny over how a contingent of this size arrived at departure gates without confirmed entry clearance for more than a third of its members.

What Comes Next

The priority now is clear: every effort must be made to resolve the visa situation for the remaining 23 athletes as quickly as possible. Every day of delay is a day of preparation, acclimatisation, and mental readiness lost. For athletes like Pooja and Shahnavaz, competing at the very peak of the junior global rankings, missing these championships would be a significant blow to their season and their international development.

The championships begin tomorrow. The clock is ticking.

The U20 Asian Athletics Championships are being held in Hong Kong, China.