Coronavirus Impact: “Life first, Olympics later”; Bajrang Punia calls for postponement of Tokyo Games : Report

A month back after winning a silver at the Asian Championships, Bajrang Punia was all set to fly to Russia to work on his shortcomings ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. But now, he is confined to his apartment in a society in Sonepat due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Although the ace wrestler continues to train in the basement of his building, he does realise that the current scenario is far too serious and therefore thinks the Tokyo-bound extravaganza can wait.

“It would be better if the Olympics are postponed, considering the way things are. Life comes first and then the Olympics. Hence, I think postponing the Games will be beneficial for everyone,” Bajrang told Indian Express.

“If they (IOC) organize the Olympics as scheduled and other countries go, we will have to participate too. But it is better that they wait for two-four months, or until normalcy returns,” the report added.

He was originally scheduled to leave to Dagestan on March 6 but the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) called off the plan citing safety measures. But with his coach Shako Betinidis returning to Georgian on Sunday, Bajrang now mostly trains in the basement of his apartment with fellow wrestler Jitender.

He is, however, not the first Indian wrestler to ask the IOC for the deferment of the Olympic Games. India’s ace Greco-Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar last week expressed his concerned over the Coronavirus widespread and said that “the Olympic Games should be postponed”.

The global pandemic has disrupted the training programmes of athletes across the world. They have been compelled to train at home solo. Vinesh Phogat, for instance, was called back early by Sports Authority of India (SAI) from Norway in the wake of COVID-19. She is now practising at an akhara near her home, while her coach Woller Akos sneds her a weekly plan on Whatsapp.

Divya Kakran is also practising with her brother at her local akhara. “With no sparring partners and the women’s national camp in Lucknow shut, I practice at my local akhara with my brother,” she told WrestlingTV.

Considering the seriousness of the situation globally, the IOC has given itself four weeks to take a final call on the Tokyo Games. Reportedly, there is a strong possibility of postponement of the Summer Games to 2021 but a cancellation of it has been ruled out by IOC President Thomas Bach.