41 Indian wrestlers set to participate in national camp in September

The men and women athletes will undergo training at different venues.

With an eye on the Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to organize the national wrestling camp between September 1 to 30.

Among the athletes, the men will undergo training at the SAI centre in Sonepat while the women will hone their skills in Lucknow.

"This decision to commence the camp has been taken to ensure that those athletes who have already qualified for the Olympics and those who can still qualify for the Olympics, can begin on-field training. A total of 26 wrestlers in eight weight categories - five in freestyle (57, 65, 74, 86, 125kgs) and three in Greco-Roman (60, 77, 87kgs), as well as six support staff will participate in the men’s wrestling camp in Sonepat," said SAI in a statement.

"A total of 15 wrestlers in five categories (50, 53, 57, 62, 68kgs) and four support staff will participate in the women’s wrestling camp in Lucknow. Wrestlers who will be part of camps include Ravi Kumar, Bajrang Punia, Narsingh Yadav, Deepak Punia, Sumit, Gyanender, Sajan, Sunil Kumar, Nirmala Devi, Vinesh Phogat, Pooja Dhanda, Sakshi Malik and Divya Kakran."

The athletes, coaches and support staff joining SAI Sonepat and Lucknow will be given mandatory COVID-19 test upon arrival at the camp and resume training after a 14-day quarantine. The COVID-19 guidelines of the Government of India, state government and the SAI SOP will be adhered to strictly.

At present four wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat (women’s 53 kg), Bajrang Punia (men’s 65 kg freestyle), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (men’s 57 kg freestyle) and Deepak Punia (men’s 86 kg freestyle) have qualified for the Olympics. There are 18 Olympic categories, and wrestlers still have the opportunity to win more quota places at the Asian qualifiers and World qualifiers next year.

Numerous national camps have been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) indefinitely postponed the training camp last week after a coach tested positive for coronavirus at the Dr Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi.