Indonesia bars Israeli championship badminton player
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Indonesia bars Israeli championship badminton player

Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal trains for the World Badminton Federation World Championships scheduled in Jakarta from Aug 10-16. Indonesia has denied a visa to an Israeli badminton player seeking to compete. (AFP photo)
Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal trains for the World Badminton Federation World Championships scheduled in Jakarta from Aug 10-16. Indonesia has denied a visa to an Israeli badminton player seeking to compete. (AFP photo)

JAKARTA — Indonesia has denied a visa to an Israeli badminton player seeking to take part in next week's World Championship here.

Misha Zilberman said he started filing a visa application six months ago and had spent the past couple of weeks practising in Singapore.

"They are not giving me a visa to take part in the World Championship!" Zilberman wrote on his Facebook page.

The tournament, one of the sport's top events, runs from Aug 10-16.

"It's normal because Israel and Indonesia don't have diplomatic relations," said Fuad Basya, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association.

"It's going to be very difficult to get a visa without diplomatic relations," he told the German Press Agency, adding it was up to the government's immigration department.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian struggle for nationhood and has barred Israelis from entering the country in the past.

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