The corridors of the Chhatrsaal Akhada remain vacant as COVID-19 fear continues to grip young wrestlers despite the resumption of sporting activities. Chhatrasal one of the most famous wrestling academies of India. From Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt to Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia, it has given India many big names. But as the coronavirus cases continue to rise in Delhi many young wrestlers are reluctant to return to training. Virender, head coach at Chhatrasal and Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) nominee for Dronacharya Award 2020 says “parents are scared to send them back since the situation in Delhi is worsening day by day. The wrestlers who have not returned are training in their respective villages for now”.
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Chhatrsal Akhada following the standard of procedure issued by Sports Authority of India (SAI) resumed their sporting activities from June 1. Any athlete who wants to train in the stadium will have to go through thermal scanning. If the temperature is above normal, s/he will not be allowed to enter the premises. While all the guidelines are being followed by the stadium’s authority, some big names like Deepak and Amit Dahiya are also missing from action. “They have informed us that they are staying put at their homes for now and will only come once the condition improves,” a source told WrestlingTV.
However, Olympic-bound Ravi Dahiya who had decided to stay back continues to sweat it out along with a handful of his compatriots. Virender and twin Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar are coaching the young talents. “For now, we are concentrating on conditioning and individual training. Ravi Dahiya and some other wrestlers had stayed back during the lockdown and are the only ones who are training at the akhada for now,” Virender said.
As things stand now, wrestling’s future remains uncertain. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had earlier decided to defer the national camp indefinitely as they found the SAI guidelines too restrictive for the sport. “They (SAI SOP’s) are too strict and if there is no sparring then what is the use for the national camp. We will wait for conditions and then decide on resumption of the national camp,” Vinod Tomar, WFI’s assistant secretary said.