Vinesh Phogat, one of the prominent faces of the protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had visited the center for practice on June 9.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Sonepat is again busy these days as the protesting wrestlers along with several of their teammates started training in preparation for the Asian Games trials. Has become buzzing.
Vinesh Phogat, the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief and one of the prominent faces of the protests against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had visited the center for practice on June 9, while her cousin Geeta Phogat had also visited the center to practice for the trial. Landed on the mat.
Geeta took a maternity leave after the National Championship in Gonda in November 2021 and is now making a comeback to competitive wrestling. She is accompanied by her husband Pawan Saroha, who is also a wrestler. Geeta’s younger sister Sangeeta is also at the center along with her husband and Tokyo Games bronze medalist Bajrang Punia.
Women wrestlers usually assemble for the national camp at the SAI center in Lucknow, but in the wake of protests against Brij Bhushan, it was shifted out of the Uttar Pradesh capital.
A SAI source said, “The protesting wrestlers have been off the mat for a long time. Currently, these wrestlers are spending most of their time in the gym. Sangeeta is also working on ‘strength building’.
This officer said, “Vinesh had come to this campus only on June 9. Geeta is also coming regularly. Looks like normalcy is returning to the campus.
Bajrang and his partner Jitendra Kinha have already started training at SAI’s Bahalgarh centre, which hosts year-long national camps for men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers. The wrestlers on Friday approached the Sports Ministry with a request to hold the Asian Games trials in August, citing the need to regain physical fitness.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has sought a list of players by June 30 from all sports federations. The IOA will have to send the names of all participating Indian players to the OCA by July 15, as per the earlier deadline. The IOA, however, has approached the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) seeking time till August 10 in the matter of wrestling. (PTI)