The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is insisting on Olympic wrestling medallist Bajrang Punia attending the trials for the upcoming World Championships or providing a fitness certificate for exemption.
Bajrang has been planning to forgo the trials set for August 25 and 26 to focus on overseas training for the forthcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, slated to start on September 23. He, along with some other wrestlers, had staged a protest at Jantar Mantar against the outgoing WFI chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Both Bajrang and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Deepak Punia seem disinclined to participate in the World Championships in Belgrade, scheduled from September 16. Instead, they are focused on undergoing extensive training programmes in preparation for the Asian Games.
According to PTI news agency, Bajrang intends to train in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan between August 21 and September 28, while Deepak is looking to train in Khasavyurt, Russia from August 23 to September 28. While their focus lies on Asian Games, SAI is unhappy with their decisions, as the World Championships serves as the first qualification tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“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,” a SAI official told PTI.
The SAI has requested the two top wrestlers to participate in the World trials to validate their fitness levels, following which their overseas training proposals may be considered.
“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,” said the SAI source.
Bajrang has also requested his personal coach Sujeet Maan, strength and conditioning expert Kaazi Kiron Mustafa Hasan, physiotherapist Anuj Gupta, and sparring partner Jitender Kinha to accompany him on the training stint. Meanwhile, Deepak has asked for coach Kamal Malikov and physiotherapist Shubham Gupta to join him.
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