Shillong, May 30: There has been no last-minute reprieve for stranded Meghalaya kickboxer Hameshaniah Suiam in his attempts to secure a Russian visa for him to participate in the 9th Diamond World Cup, organised by the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO), which is scheduled to begin today.
Suiam was picked for the Indian team along with four other Meghalayans but first found it hard going in his attempts to secure funds. He subsequently took out a loan but by that time it was a little too late to apply for a visa.
Nevertheless he travelled to New Delhi with a letter from Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh addressed to the Russian Ambassador seeking assistance in an expeditious visa approval as well as a character reference by Sports & Youth Affairs Director Matsiewdor War Nongbri.
However, despite going the extra mile, Suiam informed today that he did not get the visa and will return home tomorrow. He was the only one out of the selected Meghalayan kickboxers to travel to the national capital as the others could not even secure the required funding.
Suiam is a four-time national gold medallist and has taken part in international events in Ireland and Hungary. At the latter, in 2017, he rose to world No. 28 in kickboxing.
The kickboxing World Cup is scheduled to run until 4th June.
(Photo: Hameshaniah Suiam/Facebook)
