Bajrang Punia: I will participate in Asian Championships in Kazakhstan

The 26-year-old is currently training in the USA.

Star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia is planning to make a comeback in competitive tournaments with Rome ranking series event in March and will also participate in the Asian Championships in Kazakhstan.

"I plan my comeback at the Rome ranking series event in March and will follow that up by participating in the Asian Championships in Kazakhstan," Bajrang Punia said to SAI.

The 65 kg freestyle wrestler is currently training at the Cliff Kean Wrestling Club in Michigan, USA. TOPS has sanctioned an additional one month to his camp at an approximate cost of Rs. 11.65 Lakhs. This decision was taken at the Mission Olympic Cell meeting that took place last week.

Complimenting the facility, Bajrang Punia remarked, "All facilities here are available, there is a gym, moreover I am getting very good sparring partners. The college boys who train here are good as well. I am getting access to everything I need to improve my level."

Punia has been training in the USA from December 4 and had travelled there with his coach Emzarios Bentinidis and physio Dhananjay. With the training camp now being extended, it will take place till the first week of February.

Quality of sparring partners played a big role in the World No. 4 seeking an extension to the training camp. Punia said, "The quality of sparring partners here is very good. In India, I am normally training with 74 kg and 79 kg category wrestlers but here I am getting to train with my own weight category."

He earned a quota for the Tokyo Olympics in September 2019 after winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. His last competitive international event was in February 2020 at the Asian Senior Championships in New Delhi.