Abhishek Kaushik on Visa Denial for Pakistan and Bangladesh Teams: A Stance Against Terrorism

Abhishek Kaushik discusses the visa denial of Pakistan and Bangladesh teams for the ISTC 2025, emphasizing that terrorism and sports cannot coexist. He expresses confidence in India’s performance and highlights the participation of athletes from 15 countries, while commending the support from Prime Minister Modi in promoting sports in India.

Abhishek Kaushik, President of the Amateur Soft Tennis Association UP, commented on the visa denial of the Pakistan and Bangladesh teams for the upcoming India International Soft Tennis Championship (ISTC) 2025. He emphasized that the Indian government’s decision aligns with the stance against terrorism, stating that sports and terrorism cannot coexist. The tournament is taking place at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida from March 17 to 22, 2025, featuring around 150 athletes from various countries, excluding Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Kaushik expressed confidence in India’s performance at the tournament, recalling that India won the inaugural ISTC and is optimistic about securing medals this time as well. He mentioned, “India is the winner of the last medal in India International Soft Tennis, and this time we are confident we will win a medal.”

Furthermore, he highlighted the successful execution of both the India International Soft Tennis Championship and the South Asia Soft Tennis Championship, noting participation from 15 countries. Despite this enthusiasm, he lamented that only the teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh did not attend. Kaushik remarked, “This is the India International Soft Tennis Championship, and we are also organizing the South Asia Soft Tennis Championship here in Greater Noida.”

Kaushik also acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to promoting sports in India. He praised the Prime Minister for engaging with athletes both before and after competitions, which he believes inspires athletes and enhances federation activities. “Our Prime Minister Modiji has taken sports to another level…When our PM stands shoulder to shoulder with players, the excitement among players and federations will rise,” he stated.

The remarks by Abhishek Kaushik underscore the firm stance against terrorism within the context of sports. The visa denial for the Pakistan and Bangladesh teams has highlighted the complexities of international competition amid security concerns. The success of the India International Soft Tennis Championship is attributed not only to its organizational capacity but also to governmental support, which contributes to fostering an inspiring environment for athletes.

Original Source: www.tribuneindia.com