National wrestling camp postponed after women wrestlers refuse mandatory quarantine


National wrestling camp postponed after women wrestlers refuse mandatory quarantine

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) have postponed the women’s national camp in Lucknow. The reason for the same, as stated by a source from the federation according to Hindustan Times is that leading wrestlers in the country refused to be subjected to the compulsory 14-day quarantine protocols following their return from a break for Diwali.

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The quarantine rules are in accordance with the Sports Authority of India’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). However, wrestlers refused to turn up at the camp due to their disillusionment with the quarantine protocols. Only four persons —two wrestlers, chief coach Kuldeep Malik and a physiotherapist turned up on Thursday.

‘Almost all wrestlers have said no’

The assistant secretary of the WFI Vinod Tomar spoke about the postponement of the camp and said, “Barring a few, almost all wrestlers said no to the camp as they termed the 14-day quarantine a waste of time. They have decided to train on their own at their homes. So we had no option but to postpone the camp.”

He further informed that the wrestlers will continue training for the World Cup in Serbia that is scheduled to be held in December. “We also have plans for the national championships in December. Only after that will the camp resume at Lucknow,” he said. “There is no change to the men’s camp, which is under way at Sonepat.”

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An official in the WFI blamed the WFI for the issue stating to Hindustan Times that, “WFI shouldn’t have allowed the wrestlers a week’s Diwali off and should have let the camp continue. I’m sure some wrestlers would certainly suffer due to this.”

Asian Games medalist, Divya Kakran spoke in favor of the postponement and said, “I’m relieved the camp has been postponed. I wasn’t getting a good training partner there. Now, I will have better training at my centre in New Delhi with good training partners.”

“I was supposed to join the camp, but I could not after Diwali due to my grandmother’s illness. I got to know about the postponement only last evening. I’m focused on training for the World Cup and the Asian Olympic qualifiers in March at Xi’an (China),” Divya added.

Some others were not happy with the move and one of them who wished to remain anonymous said, “Not getting a good training partner may be an issue for some, but I’m quite disappointed. Being in quarantine for 14 days is for our health. I was ready to train in Lucknow, it is not possible to get good training facilities at home.”

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