India’s top wrestler and Tokyo Olympics medal prospect Bajrang Punia will be travelling to Russia next month for training.

“Before Olympics, I need more training. The last 18 months have been tough because of the pandemic. There were neither competitions nor training camps outside. It became a huge challenge to get sparring partners. Staying fit was also a challenge,” Bajrang said during a virtual news conference organised by the Sports Authority of India.

“In my category (65kg), there are 10-12 wrestlers and each of them is capable of beating anyone. You cannot name a particular wrestler who could be a favourite in the 65kg category.

“I can’t prepare for one particular opponent. What If I don’t get him in the draw? That’s why I need to focus on my training and have planned this Russia trip.

“I am awaiting my visa. There will be a lot of good wrestlers there in Russia, including world and Olympic champions.”

Bajrang’s Russia sojourn means that he will not be participating in the Warsaw ranking series event to be held from June 8-13.

“Right now, I need more mat training with strong sparring partners than competitions,” the 27-year-old, who has been a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme since November 2018, said.

Bajrang said he is working hard on all aspects of the game, including “making my leg defence stronger”.

“I don’t wish to give my opponents the upper hand. The more you train, your endurance and power keep getting better.

“I have this problem of conceding early points, but I have worked on that. My coaches say I waste a lot of power in that point-recovery process, so I now try not to concede those early points.

“My training has been such since my early days, that’s why my game has become power-oriented. Still, I have worked on my leg defence and it has got better,” he said.

Eight Indian wrestlers have qualified for the Games. Along with Bajrang, Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Sumit Malik (125kg) are in the men’s freestyle, while Seema Bisla (50kg), Vinesh Phogat (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Sonam Malik (62kg) have earned berths in the women’s section.

Asked about his favourite Olympic moment, Bajrang said: “It’s Abhinav Bindra winning shooting gold in Beijing in 2008. I saw it on television and it was a memorable occasion for me.”