WFI postpones Olympics’ 74kg category trials owing to injuries
Three days before the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was supposed to hold the trials in Delhi’s IG Stadium, the 74kg wrestlers have requested the federation to postpone their category. Trials would take place for the other five Olympic categories now with the Worlds starting in September.
The decision was reportedly taken by the WFI president following requests by a couple of wrestlers, who submitted their medical certificates claiming that they are injured. The trials for the 74kg will now take place in the second week of August alongside the four non-Olympic weight categories.
“We got the request from more than two wrestlers to delay the trials as they are recovering from injuries. We want to give equal chances to everyone and may the best win,” said WFI president Brij Bhusan Saran Singh, reported Scroll.
Apart from the wrestlers in the camp, Olympian Sushil Kumar would also likely be participating in the trials, whose participation was under doubt for him not training in the national camp. However, Singh confirmed that Kumar has been informed of the postponement.
“We informed Sushil as well and now we have to host the trial with the non-Olympic weight categories. It will be around the second week of August,” he said.
The scheduled date of Friday would now see the remaining five Olympic weight categories – 57 kg, 65 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, and 125 kg. The winners of these categories would represent India at the September 14-22 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The women’s trials has also been scheduled to be held on Sunday at the Sports Authority of India, Lucknow.
