Olympics is in 7 Months! Bajrang Punia Asks to Start All Wrestling Activities as Soon as Possible

Bajrang Punia took to social media to urge the resumption of ‘wrestling activities’ as soon as possible, with the 2024 Paris Olympics Games starting soon.

“Wrestling activities have come to a standstill for the last several months. Neither has any nationals nor have any camps been organised to prepare the players. There is an Olympic Games after seven months but no one seems serious about it. Wrestling has given four consecutive medals in the last four Olympics,” Bajrang said in a social media post.

“So, I request the Sports Ministry to start all wrestling activities as soon as possible so that the future of the players can be saved,” he added.

A three-member ad-hoc committee was formed by the Indian Olympic Association to oversee the WFI after the newly-elected body was suspended by the sports ministry for violating its own constitution. Last Sunday, the wrestling body was suspended for not making decisions in accordance with the provisions of its constitution.

In order to manage the day-to-day operations of the WFI, the IOA designated Wushu federation chief Bajwa as the committee’s head. The other members of the panel are 1998 Commonwealth Games badminton medallist Manjusha Kanwar and 1980 Olympic gold medallist hockey player MM Somaya.

After Sanjay Singh, a close aide of former WFI boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was elected as the president of the national wrestling body on December 24, he declared that the nationals for the Under-15 and Under-20 age groups would be held in the Nandini Nagar region of the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh before the year ended.

The region is a stronghold of BJP MP Brij Bhushan.

The ministry claimed that the wrestlers who were going to compete in the national championships were not given enough notice and that the announcement was made in a hurry and without taking into confidence secretary general Prem Chand Lochab.

Soon after the post grom Bajrang on Saturday, the senior national championships for wrestling was announced to be held from February 2 to 5 in Jaipur. Competitions will be held for top honours in senior free style, Greco Roman and the women’s section.

(With inputs from Agencies)