Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku has been denied a visa to enter India for the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women's Boxing World Championships 2023.
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Kosovo boxer Donjeta Sadiku has been denied a visa to enter India for the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s Boxing World Championships 2023. The championships are set to take place in New Delhi from March 15 to 26. The issue arose due to India not recognizing Kosovo’s independence, with similar problems having arisen in the past when Kosovo attempted to participate in sporting events hosted by India. Despite applying for the visa in December 2022 with all the necessary documentation, Sadiku, and her team have received no response from the Boxing Federation of India or the IBA, and are at risk of missing the competition.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia continues to view it as an autonomous part of its country, causing division in the international community over its recognition. The Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOK) was only recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2014, and there have been several controversies surrounding Kosovo’s participation in international sport.
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One example was the European Karate Federation Junior, Cadet, and Under-21 Championships earlier this year in Larnaca, where Kosovar athletes boycotted the event due to the Cypriot government preventing the display of Kosovo’s national flag at the venue. Another was the Men’s World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, which the IBA awarded without conducting “necessary due diligence,” according to the IOC. Kosovo’s team was refused entry to Serbia on multiple occasions during that event.
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The build-up to the IBA Women’s Boxing World Championships has been dominated by boycotts from several countries due to concerns over the IBA’s direction under Russian President Umar Kremlev and its decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags, contradicting IOC recommendations. The IBA has been suspended by the IOC since 2019. In addition, Boxing is not part of the initial program for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The Kosovo Boxing Federation and the KOK are working to resolve the issue and secure Sadiku’s participation in the World Championships. The KOK has been in contact with the Kosovo Boxing Federation and the Indian Olympic Association to find a solution. The Kosovar delegation is expected to travel to New Delhi on March 13, but the lack of a visa for Sadiku could prevent her from participating in the event.
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