WANA (Oct 17) – The United Kingdom has denied a visa to Yasin Shoari, Iran’s 11-year-old table tennis prodigy, preventing him from competing in the World Hoops Table Tennis Championships in Sheffield.
The tournament is set to take place from October 17 to 19 in England. Shoari, one of only three Asian players invited, had earned his place after winning the Asian Hoops title two months ago in Laos.
He was scheduled to travel to England on Wednesday with his coach, Mohsen Shisheh Garha, but their trip was canceled due to the visa refusal.
Shoari, who achieved nine consecutive victories in Laos, defeated opponents from Malaysia and Japan to claim the Asian championship title for the second consecutive year.
As a result of the UK’s decision, the young champion will be absent from the global competition despite his outstanding record and earned qualification.
Yasin Shoari, Iran’s young table tennis player. Social media/ WANA News Agency
