Host nation India does not recognise Kosovo's independence, and Sadiku - a bronze medallist in the lightweight category at last year's World Championships in Istanbul - was refused a visa to enter the country for the 2018 edition, which was also held in New Delhi.

Sadiku also had faced visa issues at the Youth Women's World Boxing Championships in the Indian city of Guwahati in 2017.

Kosovo Boxing Federation secretary general Latif Demolli said that an application for Sadiku was made in good time, and there had been attempt to follow up with the Boxing Federation of India and IBA to no avail.

"We applied in December last year for participation in the World Championship in India with all the necessary visa documentation, and this is the third month," Demolli told the Kosova Press news agency.

"We have received the same answers.

"We have sent e-mails to the Federation of India and the World Federation IBA daily, but they gave us the same answer.

"Yesterday, they told us that the issue is being discussed."

Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOK) spokesperson Kushtrim Krasniqi said the organisation is in contact with the Kosovo Boxing Federation and Indian Olympic Association in an attempt to find a resolution.

The Kosovar delegation is expected to travel to New Delhi on Monday (March 13), with the World Championships scheduled for March 15 to 26.

The IBA has expressed its frustration at the host authorities' stance.

"It's with great disappointment that the International Boxing Association learned that the visas of the Kosovo team are still pending," it said in a statement.

"In close cooperation with the Boxing Federation of India, IBA has done everything possible to ensure Kosovo's participation in the Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. 

"Every IBA National Federation has a right to participate in all IBA events, confirmed by IBA Constitution and all IBA hosting agreements.

"All necessary arrangements, including invitation letters, were made in advance. 

"However, the issuance of visas is up to the state authorities, and IBA, despite doing its utmost, cannot influence the official process and final decision.

"IBA stands for sports without borders and out of politics and accepts no discrimination on any basis and will continue to fight for its athletes' rights to compete."

The governing body then known as AIBA faced criticism from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in October 2021, when it was accused of failing to conduct "necessary due diligence" on the awarding of the Men's World Championships to Serbia's capital Belgrade.

Kosovo's team was refused entry to Serbia on at least three occasions at that event.

New Delhi was awarded hosting rights to the Women's World Championships in November last year.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and the KOK was recognised by the IOC in 2014.

However, Serbia continues to view Kosovo as an autonomous part of its own country, and there is division in the international community over its recognition.

There have been several controversies related to Kosovar participation at in international sport.

Its athletes boycotted the European Karate Federation Junior, Cadet and Under-21 Championships in Larnaca earlier this year after the Cypriot Government prevented its national flag from being displayed at the venue.

The build-up to the IBA Women's Boxing World Championships has been dominated by boycotts from several countries because of concerns over the governing body's direction under Russian President Umar Kremlev and the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags, contradicting IOC recommendations.

The IBA has been suspended by the IOC since 2019, and remains off the initial programme for Los Angeles 2028.