Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who had sought time till August 10 to prepare for the Asian Games and World Championship trials, are set to leave for Kyrgyzstan and Hungary, respectively, for training with the sports ministry approving their tours.
The two wrestlers, who were at the forefront of the protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, had sent their proposals a few days ago.
The wrestlers are set to leave in the first week of July, a clear indication that they will not return to the streets for protest, as they had announced on social media recently.
While Punia will head to Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, for 36 days, Vinesh will first travel to Kyrgyz capital Bishkek for a week and then to Tata, Hungary, for 18 days of training.
Vinesh will be accompanied by physiotherapist Ashwini Jeevan Patil, coach Sudesh and sparring partner Sangeeta Phogat, who is Punia’s wife and was a part of the protest.
The IOA-appointed ad hoc panel had reduced the selection trials to a one-bout competition for the six protesting wrestlers, who will be required to beat just the winners of the trials to seal their places in the Indian teams.
The decision by the IOA panel had evoked strong criticism from the wrestling fraternity.
