<p class="title">Chinese wrestlers will be unable to take part in the Asian Championships in New Delhi this week after being denied visas because of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said</p>.<p class="bodytext">India's government has suspended e-visas for Chinese nationals due to the deadly virus that has claimed more than 1,800 lives since spreading from its epicentre in the central city of Wuhan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They are not coming. Of course, health concerns remain a big reason and the coronavirus outbreak is deadly," Wrestling Federation of India assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told AFP.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A Chinese Federation spokesperson was quoted as saying on the governing body's United World Wrestling (UWW) website: "The wrestlers are disappointed for sure."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Japanese world champions Kenichiro Fumita and Risako Kawai are among the top wrestlers taking part.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India's sports minister Kiren Rijiju said the denial of visas would not normally be allowed but there were exceptions for an extraordinary health crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We can't deny a visa to citizens of any country because it is a part of the Olympic charter. We try to keep sports away from politics," Rijiju told reporters.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But where there is a health concern or any technical issue, there are separate provisions for that."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Asian Championships, which provide UWW ranking points that count towards seedings at this year's Tokyo Olympics, begin Tuesday and run until February 23.</p>
<p class="title">Chinese wrestlers will be unable to take part in the Asian Championships in New Delhi this week after being denied visas because of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said</p>.<p class="bodytext">India's government has suspended e-visas for Chinese nationals due to the deadly virus that has claimed more than 1,800 lives since spreading from its epicentre in the central city of Wuhan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They are not coming. Of course, health concerns remain a big reason and the coronavirus outbreak is deadly," Wrestling Federation of India assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told AFP.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A Chinese Federation spokesperson was quoted as saying on the governing body's United World Wrestling (UWW) website: "The wrestlers are disappointed for sure."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Japanese world champions Kenichiro Fumita and Risako Kawai are among the top wrestlers taking part.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India's sports minister Kiren Rijiju said the denial of visas would not normally be allowed but there were exceptions for an extraordinary health crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We can't deny a visa to citizens of any country because it is a part of the Olympic charter. We try to keep sports away from politics," Rijiju told reporters.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But where there is a health concern or any technical issue, there are separate provisions for that."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Asian Championships, which provide UWW ranking points that count towards seedings at this year's Tokyo Olympics, begin Tuesday and run until February 23.</p>