Top table tennis star Hugo Calderano just hit a major roadblock. The Brazilian powerhouse, ranked third in the world, was stopped cold at the US border. He was supposed to play in the Grand Smash in Las Vegas, a huge event in the sport. But American authorities denied him a visa.
The problem stems from a law passed back in 2015. It’s called the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. This rule stops people from entering the United States if they have visited certain countries deemed high-risk.
For Calderano, the issue was a trip to Cuba in 2023. He went there to compete in two important events. One was the Pan-American Championship. The other was a qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He finished fourth in that Olympic qualifier.
Calderano’s team worked tirelessly to sort out the situation. They reached out to the US Table Tennis Association (USATT). They also got in touch with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Yet, nothing worked. Even using his Portuguese passport, which he often does for travel, didn’t help him get into the country.
“I followed the usual steps for all my past trips to the USA using my Portuguese passport,” Calderano said. “When I found out about the problem, my entire team tried to get an emergency visa. Sadly, we just couldn’t make it happen in time.” He shared his deep frustration. “It’s tough to miss one of the season’s biggest events because of things I can’t control. Especially when I’ve been playing so well.”
Indeed, Calderano has been on a hot streak. This year alone, he won the World Cup. He also placed second at the World Championship. Plus, he clinched the WTT Star Contender title in Slovenia. Now, a key tournament is off his schedule, a real blow to his season.