Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu, from Arunachal Pradesh, were supposed to fly to the host country as part of an 11-strong wushu squad, as reported by Times of India.

Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) honorary life vice-president Wei Jizhong claims that the Chinese Government did not refuse to grant the athletes entry, but they did not accept the visa offered to them.

They were presented with a stapled visa which is temporarily attached to a passport but is not accepted as a legitimate travel document by India.

China disputes India's sovereignty over the eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and challenges the legitimacy of the border between the two.

China claims approximately 90,000 square kilometres of the region as part of its territory, referring to it as Zangan or South Tibet on maps.

Last month, the relationship was strained when the Chinese Government released its new standard map in which Arunachal Pradesh was depicted as part of China in addition to other internationally disputed areas.

OCA Acting President Raja Randhir Singh said the organisation was made aware of the situation yesterday and that it will take up the matter with the Government. 

Wushu at Hangzhou 2022 is set to run from September 24 to 28 at the Guali Cultural and Sports Centre.

"These Indian athletes have already got visas to enter China," said Wei.

"China did not refuse any visa but the problem is that according to the Chinese Government regulations, we have the right to give them different kinds of visas.

"We have an arrival visa, we have a paper visa, we have visas for passports. 

"These are the host country's Government regulations.

"The Chinese Government gave them visas, they can enter, but unfortunately these athletes did not accept the visa."

It is thought that by issuing the stapled visas to those from Arunachal Pradesh, China is attempting to undermine India's claim over the region. 

A similar situation occurred at the World University Games earlier this year in China.

India withdrew its eight-athlete wushu team from competition in Chengdu after the Government only offered the stapled visas to the same three from Arunachal Pradesh.

This was met with anger by India's Foreign Ministry which described the move as "unacceptable".

Military forces from China and India clashed along the disputed border in December last year which resulted in minor injuries but no casualties.

It was the first flare-up since 2020 when at least 24 soldiers from both sides died in a violent conflict.

China has several disputes over land and water with other nations including the Philippines which is in disagreement over areas of the South China Sea.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino said he hopes that the "hosts' treatment will be good" despite the issue.