New Delhi: Wrestling Federation of India today announced that its senior male and female wrestling teams will train in Las Vegas, USA from 26 August - 6 September 2015. This tour is in preparations for the World Wrestling Championship to be held at the same venue from 7 -12 September 2015.
Mr. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, President Wrestling Federation of India and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) said “This tour will be an ideal opportunity for our wrestlers to get international exposure and get acclimatize to the local conditions in Las Vegas ahead of World Championship. Considering the importance of World Wrestling Championship which is also the first qualifying event for Rio Olympic Games 2016, we have scheduled this training tour with the aim to prepare our wrestlers in a better way and win more and more Olympic quotas”.
“I am sure this tour will be an added advantage for our wrestlers who have been working hard in training camps since November 2014” added Mr. Bhushan.
Indian wrestling teams have recently performed well in the Vth Senior International Wrestling Tournament "Cup of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan" in Astana, Kazakhstan last month.
Olympic Games 2012 bronze medalist Yogeshwar Dutt (65 kg) who will lead the male team which aims to train hard in USA to get acclimatize to local conditions and work on sharpening their techniques ahead of the World Championship. World Wrestling Championship is also the qualifying event for Rio Olympic Games 2016 and Indian wrestlers are targeting as many berths through this event. The team will also see participation from international medalists including Olympian Nar Singh Pancham Yadav (74 kg), Commonwealth Games medalist Amit Kumar (57 kg), Asian Games medalist Mausam Khatri (97 kg) and Commonwealth Games & Asian Games medalist Bajrang (61 kg).
In the female team, Olympian Geeta Phogat (58 kg) of Haryana who had won bronze medal at the World Championship in 2012 will spearhead the Indian attack. Commonwealth Games 2014 gold medalist Vinesh (48 kg), Commonwealth Games gold medalist Babita Kumari (53kg) and Commonwealth Games 2014 silver medalist Lalita (55 kg) will also be part of the team that will train in USA.
Majority of the wrestlers and members of the support staff have already departed yesterday night and rest will leave today. Bajrang who had won a bronze medal in the 60 kg division at the 2013 World Wrestling Championship will fly for Las Vegas, USA on 29th August after receiving Arjuna Award from Hon’ble President of India. Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt will also fly with Bajrang on the same day as he will accompany his teammate Bajrang for receiving Arjuna Award.
Teams
Men Free Style Team
Amit Kumar (57 kg), Bajrang Singh (61 kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (65 kg), Arun (70 kg), Narsingh Yadav (74 kg), Naresh Kumar (86 kg), Mausam Khatri (97 kg), Sumit (125 kg)
Support Staff
Kuldeep Singh (Coach), Jagmal Singh (Coach), Sunil Rajguru (Masseur), Manjul Nautiyal (Masseur)
Men Greco Roman Team
Ravinder Singh (59 kg), Deepak (66 kg), M Rafique (71 kg), Gurpreet Singh (75 kg), Harpreet Singh (80 kg), Manoj Kumar (85 kg), Hardeep (98 kg), Naveen (130 kg)
Support Staff
Kuldeep Singh (Coach), Mahabir Prasad (Coach), Chandervijay Singh (Coach), Brajesh (Physio), Krishan Kumar (Masseur)
Female Team
Vinesh (48 kg), Babita (53 kg), Lalita (55 kg), Geeta Phogat (58 kg), Sarita (60 kg), Anita (63 kg), Navjot (69 kg), Nikki (75 kg)
Support Staff
A N Yadav (Coach), Krtishna Arya (Coach), Shweta Bala (Masseur), Dhirendra Pratap (Physio).
