Wrestling News: Arjun Halakurki is probably the best wrestler to come from South India. The quiet rise of the Greco-Roman wrestler away from the wrestling hub has been phenomenal. From gold at the national championships to Asian Championship bronze, the 21-year-old has put his home state Karnataka on the wrestling map of India. But an injury has stalled his meteoric rise. The wrestler was shortlisted for the month-long camp for Tokyo Olympic hopefuls in Sonepat. However, a shoulder injury has forced him to skip it. “I have written a letter to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) asking them to allow me to skip the camp due to my shoulder injury,” Halakurki says from the Army hospital, Pune.
The wrestler has been doing rehabilitation for his injury since past one month and hopes that he recovers soon. “I do not know how long will it take but I am hoping to recover as soon as possible”.
He is not the only wrestler who is missing the national camp. Freestyle wrestler Satender (125kg) will also not attend the camp due to his obligations to the armed forces. “I am currently doing a course which will help me get a promotion, so that is why I will not go to Sonepat,” he said.
With wrestlers missing from the camp, WFI has decided to look for replacements. “We do not want to name a wrestler only to find that he is unwilling to join. We have decided to speak to the probable candidates and take their consent before calling them for the camp,” it said.
The 26 men national camp had begun on September 1 for five freestyle and three Greco-Roman categories. While most of the wrestlers arrived at the camp, a few did not turn up. “Few wrestlers have still not joined the camp yet. We do not know why they are not here, coaches will be the best to pour light on it,” Bajrang Punia had said earlier.
WFI might also call-up U23 wrestlers for the camp to act as sparring partners for the Tokyo Olympics hopefuls. “Almost all elite wrestlers are here so it’s not an issue. We only need sparring partners. We can even call a U-23 wrestler for the camp if he agrees,” it added.
