Novak Djokovic’s visa cancelled after uproar over entitlement

World number and nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic visa has been canceled by the Australian government because the defending champion is still not vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said Thursday (January 6), “The advice that I have literally just received before joining you is that the visa for Novak Djokovic has been canceled,” he said at a news conference.

It’s a matter for him whether he wishes to appeal that, but if a visa is canceled, somebody will have to leave the country.”

Earlier, Djokovic was allowed to participate in the tournament and was given a deferment for not being vaccinated. However, this caused a huge controversy when 17-year-old Indian tennis player Aman Dahiya was denied entry to the Junior Australian Open because he was not vaccinated.

In the case of Dahiya the decision not to get vaccinated was not a choice but he was underage. The Indian government as of January 3. 2022, started vaccinating children aged between 17 and 18. 

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