Indian wrestlers extremely disappointed with the postponement of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers

The Indian wrestlers are shocked with the deferment of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 

A 14-member Indian contingent was scheduled to fly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on March 24 to participate in the qualification tournament for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The qualifiers were scheduled from March 27 to 29.
       
                                   

The host governing body has decided to postpone the qualifiers as a step of precaution. The news has taken the Indian grapplers completely off-guard.

Asian Championships Greco-Roman 87kg gold medallist was disappointed by the decision as he believed Asian qualifiers  gave a better chance to the Indian grapplers to qualify for Olympics.

“Asian Qualifiers were easy for us. The World Olympic Qualifiers will be tougher as there will be more wrestlers bidding their chances for the Tokyo Games,” he told wrestling tv.

“I am shocked by the news. It is unexpected. This epidemic is affecting our chances for the Olympic,” 86kg Women’s gold medallist said Divya Kakran.

India’s 77kg Greco-Roman first-choice for Bishkek bound qualifiers Gurpreet also shared his Indian counter-parts feelings. The wrestler believes that “due to the cancellation, our chances for Olympics becomes less.”

“As an athlete we train a lot to play at the Olympics. But the news of cancellation of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers is disappointing,” said Gurpreet.

Indian wrestling squad was scheduled to fly abroad for training for the upcoming qualifiers. While Greco-Roman team was to train in Azerbaijan, the Women’s and Freestyle squads were to prepare in Ukraine and Russia respectively.

But with the outbreak of the pandemic, the Wrestling Federation is monitoring the situation closely and will take dynamic calls if the situation demands so.

There is no panic, nor shall we act in haste. But WFI is monitoring the situation in the countries where our wrestlers will train. 

We are also monitoring that which wrestlers will be training with our players. Whatever the uncertainties, it is certain that no Indian wrestler will be exposed to any risks. 

We are prepared to take any call if situation warrants so,” said Toma