Star wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat on Monday hit the mat for the first time in 15 days to prepare for the Asian Games trials, while the IOA’s (Indian Olympic Committee) ad-hoc committee concluded the Asian Championships (U-17 and U-23) ) has started working on a plan to start activities for selection trials. With Bajrang, Vinesh and Sakshi Malik and a large number of wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, there was no question of them getting a sparring partner.
These wrestlers have accused Brij Bhushan of sexually abusing women wrestlers. Bajrang and Vinesh have not participated in any international tournament since January. Both these wrestlers have not gone abroad for practice even after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) got approval for training abroad on their demand. Until recently, they were adamant that they would not participate in training camps or international tournaments until their demands were met. In the last fortnight, he had attended two light exercise sessions at Jantar Mantar itself.
Vinesh, however, had said on Sunday that she would start practicing and would not stay away from tournaments now. Bajrang attended an hour-long session with Jitendra Kinha at a nearby stadium. Vinesh practiced with her cousin Sangeeta and Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi Malik. Satyavrat Kadian practiced with his brother Sombir. A senior wrestler who participated in the practice session said, “Last time we did mat training a day before the protest resumed. You saw how busy we were in meeting supporters in the last 15 days. Discussions were going on till late night, practice was not happening. But now we will do continuous mat training.
He said, “We did light training today, following the technique. Gradually we will also start ‘Strength and Endurance Training’. We are hoping that a proper solution will be found and till then we want to be ready for the Asian Games trials. We also want to compete in the upcoming ranking series tournament.” However, the team has already been decided for the UWW (Global Association of Amateur Wrestling Federation) ranking series event to be held in Bishkek from June 1 to 4. This is more or less the same team that participated in the Asian Championships in Astana in April and won 14 medals.
Bajrang, Vinesh, Sakshi, Satyavrat and Sangeeta were not part of the Indian team in Astana as they were protesting. Meanwhile, an ad-hoc committee constituted by the IOA to run the day-to-day activities of the WFI held discussions with the coaches and SAI officials. Ad-hoc committee member national shooting coach Suma Shirur did not attend the meeting. Bhupendra Singh Bajwa, another member of the committee, discussed the future plans with the coach. Keeping in view the Asian Championships for U-17 and U-23 wrestlers to be held in Bishkek from June 10 to 18, the committee decided to hold the trials at the Indira Gandhi Stadium from May 17 to 19.
Resumption of national camp for senior wrestlers was discussed but the final call will be taken by SAI. “There is no problem with regard to the men’s national camp and SAI will soon announce a date for it,” said an IOA source. Women wrestlers are not keen to join the camp in Lucknow. They want the camp to be held at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium but accommodation is an issue here. “SAI officials are discussing it and will soon finalize the dates and venue for the camp,” said the source. Will give form.” Meanwhile, a large number of farmers reached Jantar Mantar to support the protesting wrestlers.
Farmers from Punjab and Khap members from Haryana reached the protest site in the morning to extend support to the wrestlers. They also broke the police ‘barricades’ to reach the protest site. It looked more like a farmers’ protest than a wrestler’s movement. In the evening, laborers were seen welding the barricades to ensure that the farmers do not breach the cordon again.
