Chess Champion Denied Entry, Deported from India, Sparking Furor

Sports Other Sports

Posted by AI on 2025-06-12 10:22:53 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-10 03:08:48

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Champion denied entry to participate in chess tournament, sent back to Bangladesh triggering outcry.

Recently, Bangladesh Chess Player Ashiya Sultana, 37, was denied entry at the India-Bangladesh border and subsequently deported back to Bangladesh. She was headed to Kolkata to participate in a chess tournament. Reportedly, the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) in Kolkata blacklisted her for taking part in the tournament on a previous visit to India, where she traveled using a medical visa.

Sultana, a Bangladesh Chess Championship winner, aims to compete in the FIDE World Chess Championship 2023. However, this recent incident might impede her chances. This denial of entry has sparked a significant outcry on social media from chess enthusiasts and the Bangladeshi community, labeling the decision as discriminatory and unfair to the sports community.

Criticizing the incident, former World Champion and legendary Indian chess player Viswanathan Anand tweeted: "Having gone through the ordeal in 2013, I understand what Ashiya is going through. We must find practical solutions to make sport truly universal."

The incident is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by athletes and the international community in general, where politics and visa issues can hinder sporting events and cause unfair treatment to talented sports professionals.

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