approached the UK Government on Wednesday, via the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, to obtain visa for tennis player Sania Mirza’s two-year-old son, so that she can concentrate in the games without worrying about her son back home.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) released an official statement about the visa status of Sania to travel to Nottingham. The statement said, “Though Sania has been granted a visa to travel to Nottingham, her son and his caretaker have not received UK visas owing to the travel restrictions on Indian travellers”.
Sania, a member of the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), approached the Ministry for assistance with her son’s and caretaker’s visas. Sania claimed that she would be unable to leave her two-year-old toddler back home while on a month-long trip. The Sports Ministry immediately took up the appeal and sent a letter to the MEA, requesting that the matter be taken up in the United Kingdom through the Indian Embassy in London.
Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, spoke about the Ministry’s efforts. He said, “We received this request for Sania a few days back, and I felt that it is important that as a mother Sania be allowed to take her two-year-old son along so that she can participate with a free mind without worrying for her child back home.” Kiren Rijiju expressed hopes on getting the visa for Sania’s son. He said, “I have approved the request and Sports Ministry officials have initiated the process with the MEA. The Sports Ministry’s effort has always been to provide every support to our athletes. We are hopeful that the UK Government will see merit in this case and allow the child to travel with Sania”.
