India's top wrestlers, including Olympians Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who had lost time due to the wrestlers' protest, had expressed their desire to participate in the upcoming Asian Games.
The ad hoc panel of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) paid heed to their demands and mandated that they would have to participate in a one-bout selection trial to qualify for their individual categories.
Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Kadian and Jitender Kinha have been promised that the one-bout trial will be held between August 5 and August 15.
MORE: Latest sports betting and odds
When is the last date to send names to OCA for Asian Games?
The last date to send names for the Asian Games to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is July 15.
The IOA had requested them to extend the deadline until August 15 but their request has been partially granted as the OCA have agreed to give an extension of eight days — until July 23.
Now, the Indian body has requested the date to be at least extended until August 5, so that the wrestlers can get a chance to qualify for the Asian Games.
What did PT Usha say about extending the date?
“We have sought further extension up to August 5 for the interest of the nation. Wrestling is a sport in which India have been doing well at the Asian Games and for the betterment of our wrestlers we should get the extension. It’s a sport in which we are expecting four-five medals including gold medals," she said.
MORE: Protesting wrestlers want to participate in Asian Games 2023 trials
Where are Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat training before Asian Games?
From July 1 Bajrang has been training in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. He will be joined by his trainer Sujeet Maan, physical therapist Anuj Gupta, sparring partner Jitender, and strength and conditioning instructor Kaazi Kiron Mustafa Hasan. The sanctioned amount for Bajrang's trip is Rs 927,000.
Vinesh, in contrast, flew to Bishkek on July 2. After training there until July 10 she will travel to Budapest, Hungary, where she will train through the end of the month.
Vinesh will be accompanied by her coach Sudesh and her physical therapist Ashwini Patil, according to the Sports Authority of India.
Sangeeta Phogat will travel as her sparring partner. Sangeeta is another wrestler who has spearheaded the protests against Brij Bhushan. For her tour, a total of about Rs 850,000 has been set aside.
