Athletic Competitor Vanishes During U.S. Table Tennis Event
In a surprising turn of events, the table tennis World Cup champion and vice-world champion, Hugo Calderano, has been denied entry to the United States for the WTT Grand Smash tournament in Las Vegas. This decision comes as a result of a visit Calderano made to Cuba in 2023 for the ITTF Pan American Championships and Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers[1][2][3].
Usually, Calderano, who holds a Portuguese passport, would have been able to enter the US visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, U.S. regulations, specifically the 2015 Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, bar individuals who have visited countries like Cuba from participating in the VWP. This means they must obtain a regular visa, which Calderano was unable to secure in time for the tournament despite mobilizing his team[1][2][3].
Calderano, who is currently the number three in the world rankings, confirmed the denial on his website, expressing his frustration about being excluded from one of the season's most important table tennis events due to circumstances beyond his control[1][2][3]. The denial of Calderano's visa for the tournament is a setback for the German champions TTF Ochsenhausen, as he is a key player for their team.
The denial of Calderano's visa for the tournament may have implications for other EU citizens who have traveled to Cuba and are planning to visit the US. Since 2021, EU citizens, including those with Portuguese passports, now have to apply for a visa to enter the US[1][2][3]. The first Grand Smash tournament in the United States is one of the year's most important events in the table tennis calendar, making Calderano's absence a significant loss for the sport[1][2].
The denial of Calderano's visa for the tournament highlights the complexities and potential challenges associated with international travel and competition in the current geopolitical climate. Calderano stated that he followed the same protocol for his previous trips to the US[1][2][3].
[1] https://www.calderano.pt/noticias/2023/03/21/calderano-nao-pode-ir-ao-usa-para-o-wtt-grand-smash-de-las-vegas [2] https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/news/2023/03/21/hugo-calderano-denied-usa-visa-wtt-grand-smash-las-vegas [3] https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1116887/hugo-calderano-denied-usa-visa-for-grand-smash-tournament-in-las-vegas-due-to-cuba-visit
Despite Calderano's successful visits to the US in the past, his recent pursuit of the Visa Waiver Program was unsuccessful due to his travel to Cuba in 2023. As a result, Calderano, currently ranked third in the world, will be unable to participate in the WTT Grand Smash tournament in Las Vegas, a significant loss for the sport.
