The Indian Express ·
Namibia’s Chess Olympiad horror in Uzbekistan: Visas rejected, players stranded
Contingent had applied for visa on arrival; all other members were allowed into Uzbekistan, and team had to register women's team coach and national federation chief for tournament
Two of Namibia’s players had their visas rejected upon arrival in Tashkent for the 2026 Chess Olympiad, putting their participation in the tournament in jeopardy. In a desperate bid, they had to register their women’s team coach Leonhard Mueller and national chess federation president Charles Eichab in the men’s team.
Namibia’s problems began when two players, Goodwill Khoa and Otto Nakapunda, were denied visas in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent. Khoa was sent back to Istanbul, where he was stranded without his passport.
Indian Grandmaster Priyadharshan Kannappan, who is training the Namibian men’s team and serves as their coach and captain, provided a detailed account of what unfolded.
