Wrestling's Weekly Newsletter: Top 10 stories that made the headlines

Here are the top 10 stories that made the headline this week:

1) Big announcement by Kiren Rijiju, competitions to resume from September, October

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju is hoping India would be able to organise sporting events in a phased manner by September-October, saying it will help in boosting the confidence of people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sports Ministry had resumed training camps of some Olympics disciplines in the last week of May and Rijiju said events will also gradually start in the near future.

“The government has allowed some sporting activities with certain restrictions while following a stringent SOP, the guidelines that must be followed by every sporting organisation,” Rijiju said while addressing a ministerial forum of Commonwealth countries on Thursday.

2) Father Satywan helps Satyawart and Sakshi Malik prepare for Tokyo Olympics

Satyawart Kadian is eagerly waiting for the national camp to resume so that he can begin preparations for the Tokyo Olympics in full swing. But as the long-wait continues, he has resorted to training under his guru (teacher) and father Satyawan Kadian. “He would make sure to attend the training session at least once every day. He is helping us working on our techniques,” he said.

3) Tokyo Olympics 1 year to go, Organizers aim for simpler, cheaper, safer Olympics show

It is exactly 1 year from now Tokyo Olympics is once again scheduled to start. Fri, 23 Jul, 2021 is the date global sporting world will wait for with bated breath and sense of apprehension. Will the Tokyo Olympics take place ? Will it be safe to host, participate or attend ? Will the Covid19 die down in 1 year’s time ? Will the global economic downturn can make a U-Turn for good ? All these questions remain unanswered – as the sporting world celebrates 1 year countdown to Tokyo Olympics 2021.

4) Bajrang Punia LIVE: My father played very important role in making me a wrestler

Every person has a role model in his life and usually it either the mother or the father. In Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia’s life it was his father who played a very important role in shaping his wrestling career. “My father played a very important role. He never let me feel that we have financial difficulties,” the Tokyo Olympic-bound wrestler told WrestlingTV during the Instagram live chat.

Read More: Bajrang Punia LIVE: My father played very important role in making me a wrestler

5) Geeta Phogat eyes Tokyo Olympics, begins preparations: Watch Video

Wrestling News:Veteran Indian wrestler Geeta Phogat expressed her desire to make a comeback and represent the country at the 2021 Olympic Games during paddler Mudit Dani’s online chat show ‘In The Sportlight’.

The Dangal girl said the postponement of the mega event came as a blessing in disguise for her as she now has more time to prepare for the Tokyo Games. “Since the Olympics has been postponed, I’m hoping to compete in it. This one year will give me sufficient time to prepare for the trials and the qualification events,” said Geeta, who became the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold at Commonwealth Games in 2010.

6) WFI to likely begin camp in August

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is likely to hold national camp in August. Indian wrestlers will join training after following testing and quarantine protocols. The Sports Authority India (SAI) has been in touch with wrestlers for some time now, through the de-recognised WFI, regarding the possibility of resuming camp which was called off in mid-March due to covid-19.

7) UWW issues SOPs for coaches and wrestlers

The United World Wrestling (UWW) has issued a set of guidelines for resuming training for wrestlers and coaches. Its Commission on Medicine, Prevention and Anti-Doping, in conjunction with the Science Commission has developed a Standard of Procedure (SOP) for the wrestling fraternity as the world restarts training for Tokyo Olympics amid covid-19. The manual has been compiled based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization and is intended for the safety and recovery of wrestling activity. This guide is recommended as a reference sheet and is in addition to all health requirements that are prescribed by government agencies and doctors, reported Wrestrus.RU.

8) 20 Asian Champions and what they are doing now

India was amongst the best performers at the Asian Championships held in New Delhi in February. It had won 20 medals, recording its best performance at the continental meet. Had it not been for the covid-19, Indian wrestlers were amongst the favourites to confirm the Tokyo Olympics quota at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers. But the pandemic played spoilsport on all their preparations. They were forced to stay indoors at train individually to keep themselves fit for whenever things return to normal.

9) Indian women wrestling is in safe hands: Alka Tomar

Even before the Phogat sister, there was Alka Tomar fighting the age-old stereotypes related to women. She had set the foundation stone for future generations to follow. Tomar is India’s first female wrestler from the country to win a World Championships medal. It is her efforts that India today boast’s one of the strongest women wrestling faction. She says, that the current ecosystem has lifted the standard of women’s wrestling in India.

10) Railway ponders over starting SAI-like online classes for wrestlers

Now, Indian Railways is thinking over starting online classes for its wrestlers. Taking a cue from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), it has also decided to conduct online classes for its athletes. A camp for railway wrestlers was proposed in March, but it was cancelled in the wake of Covid-19. For the past four months, the wrestlers have been at home without any practice. To resume training, the railway coaches want the board to hold online classes for grapplers