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The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has set forth a clear mandate for Olympic medallist wrestler, Bajrang Punia. If he wishes to be exempted from this week's trials in Patiala for the World Championships, he must provide fitness certificate.
Bajrang Punia, recognized for his commendable achievements in wrestling, has expressed his intentions to forego the World Championships trials scheduled for August 25 and 26. Instead, he's eyeing a foreign training regime in preparation for the forthcoming Asian Games, set to commence in Hangzhou on September 23.
It's not just Bajrang; Commonwealth Games gold-medal victor, Deepak Punia (86khg), also shares the sentiment. Both wrestlers, including Bajrang, who recently partook in a protest at Jantar Mantar against the outgoing WFI chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, prefer extensive training over competing in the World Championships in Belgrade, which begins on September 16.
While Bajrang has pitched for training in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan from August 21 to September 28, Deepak is keen on a five-week stint in Khasavyurt, Russia, from August 23 to September 28, all in pursuit of Asian Games preparation.
A SAI official shared with PTI, stating, "Yes, we have asked Bajrang why he is skipping the Worlds trials. He said he wants to prepare for Asian Games and train abroad till then. But we asked him to appear for the trials on August 25 and 26 and leave for training camp abroad on August 27."
The significance of the World Championships stems from it being the first qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. SAI's concern is amplified by the fact that two premier wrestlers from the nation intend to overlook both the trials and this pivotal championship.
Furthermore, Bajrang, the proud 65kg category Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze winner, has also requisitioned the company of physiotherapist Anuj Gupta, personal coach Sujeet Maan, strength specialist Kaazi Kiron Mustafa Hasan, and sparring ally Jitender Kinha. In tandem, Deepak has sought the expertise of coach Kamal Malikov and physiotherapist Shubham Gupta.
SAI's stand is unambiguous: compete in the World trials, validate fitness, and then discussions about foreign training can ensue.
"We have also asked him (Bajrang) to provide his fitness certificate if he has to skip the trials altogether. We have also received his request for his support staff. The matter is with MOC (Mission Olympic Cell) right now and they will take a call after getting due reply from Bajrang," a SAI insider revealed.
After an extended training period in Kyrgyzstan, Bajrang and his training partner Kinha returned to India. Notably, Bajrang, Asian Games gold laureate Vinesh Phogat, and Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik had earlier voiced their desire for overseas training. This was after an approximately two-month protest at Jantar Mantar against Brij Bhushan.
It's pivotal to note that these wrestlers were granted exceptions from the Asian Games trials on July 22-23. This special treatment garnered criticism and resistance from their peers in the wrestling community.
