Following Indian government’s advisory in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak in India, New Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium including its wrestling nursery “Chhatrasal Akhara” was shut on Saturday. The authority has asked all its wrestlers to return home. India’s Olympic medal hopes Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia will also shift to SAI center, Sonepat. The stadium will be shut until March 31 as a precautionary measure to contain the deadly virus.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the pandemic outbreak, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) also decided to cut short Vinesh Phogat’s Norway training camp. The 25-year-old wrestler was originally scheduled to return to India on March 17 but was called back early on March 13 (Friday).
A decision over the Indian Greco team has not been taken as of now. The six wrestler team is training in Baku, Azerbaijan. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) said that they are monitoring the situation and they are ready to take dynamic actions if the need arises.
SAI had also shut its Bengaluru brach in the wake of the Coronavirus widespread in Karnataka. Also, those training at the facility have been advised not to leave the campus keeping in mind the extraordinary situation.
United World Wrestling (UWW) also postponed the Asian, European, African & Oceanian and World Olympic Qualifiers with the rise in Coronavirus cases globally. The world governing body is yet to announce new dates and venue for the qualifiers.
Iran Wrestling Federation, however, has reported that the qualification tournament will be held in May-end and early June.
