Swimmer denied visa to participate world meet in US

Kozhikode, Aug 3 (UNI) An Indian swimmer, who has qualified for the XI FINA World Masters Championship in the United States said today he would not be able to attend the event beginning from tommorrow following denial of visa by the US Consulate at Chennai.

Constable M T P Saifuddin of the Hosdurg Police station in Kasargod district in Kerala, told UNI that an official, at the consulate straightaway turned down his request for visa, without assigning any specific reason.

''The official did not even bother to go through the application when I visited the Consulate on July 27 for interview, alongwith all other necessary documents,'' he said.

He said prior to turning down his request, the official had enquired about his monthly salary and total years in athletic field.

He said all other participants from other parts of the country were given visa by the Mumbai and Delhi Consulates.

Later in an e-mail reply, the consulate had directed him to take up the case through the recognised Visa Facilitation Service Centres.

However, he said it would be too late by the time all the formalities were completed as per the directive.

The lone player to participate from Kerala in the world event, Saifuddin had won as many as ten medals during the last 20 years.

UNI PCH DH KP1835