Bajrang Punia won’t ask for exemption from World Championship trials
Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has stated that he will not ask the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for exemption from the trials of the World Championship and is ready for that. The star wrestler also added that in the sport a good day can help anyone win a particular bout.
The top-ranked 65kg free-style wrestler in the world Bajrang Punia is currently not a part of the national camp that is now on at the SAI centre in Haryana’s Sonepat. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has allowed the wrestler to train with his personal support staff. With the WFI almost organising the trials in the last week of July, Punia is not going to ask the national federation for an exemption from those.
“I am ready for the trials. I can’t say I won’t compete. If the Federation, on its own, decides to exempt me that’s different,” Punia was quoted as saying by PTI.
“A few good wrestlers are emerging in the 65kg category. The guy from Maharashtra, who is from the Army, is good. Rajneesh is also good, though he has moved up to 70kg. In wrestling what matters is the performance on the day of competition or trials. Anybody can win on his day.”
Being at the top of the United World Wrestling (UWW) rankings, Punia also had a great run in the last 10 matches. He won nine out of those 10 and now aims to claim a place in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
“Old habits die hard. I grew up competing on mud, where you mostly stand and compete. But on the mat, you have to keep leaning forward. That’s perhaps the reason, why my leg defence could not be strong. It’s an old habit and the course correction is taking some time,” the wrestler explained.
“I am sorting out my leg defence at a camp in Turkey. The coach wants me to qualify for the Olympics at the Worlds so that we have one full year to strengthen my game before the Games.”
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