The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Wednesday announced that its men’s and women’s teams will train in Las Vegas from August 26 to September 6 to prepare for the World Championship to be held in the same city from September 7 to 12.
“This tour will be an ideal opportunity for our wrestlers to get international exposure and get accustomed to the local conditions ahead of World Championship,” WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said.
“Considering the importance of World Championships which is also the first qualifying event for Rio Olympics 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.”
Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt (65 kg) will lead the men’s team. The team will also see participation from Olympian Nar Singh Pancham Yadav (74 kg), Commonwealth Games medallist Amit Kumar (57 kg), Asian Games medallist Mausam Khatri (97 kg) and Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medallist Bajrang (61 kg).
“I am sure this tour will be an added advantage for our wrestlers who have been working hard in training camps since November 2014,” said Bhushan.
Olympian Geeta Phogat (58 kg) of Haryana, who had won a bronze at the 2012 World Championship, will spearhead the women’s team. Commonwealth Games gold medallists Vinesh (48 kg) and Babita Kumari (53 kg) and silver medallist Lalita (55 kg) will also be part of the team.
Men’s teams:
Free Style: 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)
Greco Roman: 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).
Women’s 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).
