Hugo Calderano, the Brazilian table tennis player and gold medalist at the 2025 World Cup, will miss the WTT US smash event because he faced delays in obtaining a visa. After a trip to Cuba in 2023, US authorities revoked his eligibility for a visa waiver under European Union regulations. Despite efforts to secure an emergency visa, Calderano ran out of time. He expressed disappointment about missing a significant competition, stating it was frustrating to be excluded due to circumstances beyond his control.
Calderano expressed frustration about being unable to participate in the WTT US smash event due to delays in securing a visa, which he claimed was beyond his control. He stated, "It is frustrating to be left out of one of the most important competitions of the season for reasons beyond my control, especially coming off such positive results." His attempt to get an emergency visa came too late as the event was already in progress.
Despite following the same protocol he had used for previous trips to the United States, Calderano insisted he was informed that he was no longer eligible for a visa waiver due to a past trip to Cuba. He had mobilized his team to obtain an emergency visa, but the time constraints hindered his participation.
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