The 13-member Pakistani contingent had already checked into the team hotel in Mamallapuram when they were informed they would not be taking part.
In a statement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said that India has chosen to politicise this prestigious international sporting event by passing the torch relay through Jammu and Kashmir. It said the matter would be raised with the International Chess Federation.
Accusing Pakistan of politicising the event, the MEA said the UTs of J&K and Ladakh “have been, are, and will remain an integral part of India.”
Politics has become an inseparable part of sports these days. Often sportspersons are at its receiving end. Pakistan’s pull-out will not cripple the Chess Olympiad, but it is sad that players from our neighbouring country will not be able to play for no fault of theirs in the prestigious championship.
‘Pulling out won’t do any good for Pakistan chess’
It is highly unfortunate that Pakistan has politicised the prestigious international event by making such statements and withdrawing its participation after its team had already reached India,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
The Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “have been, are, and will remain an integral part of India”, Bagchi said. The torch relay crossed Srinagar, as part of its journey across 75 Indian cities.
The controversy played out amid speculation over whether or not foreign minister S Jaishankar would be meeting his counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Tashkent where the two are participating in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Bagchi said he wasn’t aware of any proposal for a meeting. Pakistan’s decision left its players, who were mentally prepared to take on the best in the world, disappointed.
One of the members in the Pakistan squad called the decision “unfortunate”.
“We were just freshening up after landing here. We were happy to have reached India and were looking forward to playing in the competition. Just when we were about to leave for the opening ceremony, the instructions came in for us to pack our bags and fly back.
“It is extremely unfortunate,” a Pakistan player told TOI on condition of anonymity.
Another player called it “a missed opportunity for Pakistan”. “We had spent so much time and energy training for this tournament. We had put together a good team and came sufficiently prepared as well. Pulling out of this tournament won’t do any good for Pakistan chess,” said the player.
The men’s team comprised Amer Karim, Junaid Sohail, Waqar Muhammad, Ehtesham Ul Haq and Muhammad Shahzeb. On the other hand, the women’s team had Mehak Gul, Wasif Zenobia, Noor Fatima Rashid Fatima Rashid, Sehrish Rehman and Aleena Zahid.
Bharat Singh Chauhan, secretary of All India Chess Federation, called the whole episode unfortunate.
“We had made all possible arrangements for the Pakistan team to be part of the tournament. They had arrived here on Thursday morning but have now pulled out. It is very unfortunate,” Chauhan told TOI.
(WITH INPUTS FROM POLITICAL BUREAU)
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