PNG denied a shot at Kickboxing World Championships

The Papua New Guinea Kickboxing contingent to the World Kickboxing Championships in Spain returned after an unsuccessful trip.

A team of 31 consisting of fighters and officials were denied visa approval by the government of Spain after failing to comply with visa processing requirements.

A disappointed PNG KBF president Stanley Nandex said the team had spent nearly two weeks in Manila, Philippines, waiting for the visa process, however, it was not granted due to late submissions.

“The situation was to do with the delay of sponsorship that came in the last minute together with the delay of NID the passports as well,” Nadex said of the delay.

“However, the Spain embassy office could not grant our visas given five days which was impossible according to their requirements which takes up to a month to apply for visas.

“We all did everything within the time given in these tough economic times.”

Nandex said working with the Spain Embassy office in Manila was a hurdle due to communication as they all speak Spanish.

Oceania Continental president Rustam Attai Mohammed who was at the world championships shared similar sentiments and challenged the sports office to better organize in advance, especially with such high-profile events.

“PNG has so much potential in the kickboxing sport and so the government should give a special recognition to PNG Kickboxing Federation to support them in its activities shortly,” he said.

Despite, a disastrous trip, Nandex thanked the PNG Sports Foundation and the Sports Minister Kinoka Feo for ensuring PNG would be represented on the World stage.