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Bajrang Punia raring to start training in Russia ahead of Olympics

He is currently training under his personal coach Emzarios 'Shako' Bentinidis

Bajrang Punia nominated for Khel Ratna award, says he deserves it [File] Bajrang Punia | PTI

Wrestler Bajrang Punia, one of India's main medal hopes at Tokyo Olympics, cannot wait to get to Russia to resume his training ahead of the Summer Games. At home now in Jhajjar, Haryana, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the three-time world champion has had to restrict his training to physical workout and some practice on a mat he had arranged during the lockdown last year. With barely two months left for Tokyo Olympics, Punia feels that the training stint in Russia will provide him the much-needed sparring in his weight category.

Speaking to the media during an online interaction organised by Sports Authority of India, Punia said, "My technique can only improve through sparring. For the past one and a half years, I have only been working on fitness. Wrestling Federation of India, TOPS and SAI tried their best to get me sparring partners from overseas but it did not happen because of the COVID-19 situation here. No sparring is possible here. Whatever issues remain in my training, they will only go away by sparring and not by working out."

Punia chose Russia because of two reasons – first, he will get to spar with experienced and champion wrestlers there. Second, though the rest of the Indian team for the Olympics is based in Poland, but Punia opted against it because of quarantine rules. "In Poland, you had to quarantine for 14 days which is a long time for me. In Russia, you need not quarantine if you have tested negative for COVID-19." Punia has taken both his shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

He added that he is working on improving in all aspects of his game post Asian Championships at Almaty in April this year, where he finished with a silver medal. He withdrew from the final not wanting to risk aggravating an injury he picked up during the tournament.

"I did not play the final bout as the Asian Championship is not as important as the Olympic. I resumed my training 10 days post my recovery and rehab from the injury there. But I need a lot more training. I will have to fight hard to win a medal in Tokyo. In my weight category (65kg), there is no outright favourite. There are 10-12 wrestlers; anyone can beat another opponent on a given day. The seeding doesn’t really count. For that reason, I need to train as much as I can," said the world number 1.

He is currently training under his personal coach Emzarios 'Shako' Bentinidis. The Georgian, Punia said, has made a huge difference in his training, especially when it comes to the choice of sparring partners in camps abroad. “Earlier, getting the best sparring partners while training abroad used to be difficult. We had language and communication issues and would be left to spar with weaker wrestlers. But ever since he arrived, he plans the training schedule properly, and gets the best sparring partners."

Punia admitted that competing in front of empty stands, which seems likely at the Olympic Games, would be strange. For someone who has found support even on foreign shores from local population, it will take some getting used to. "I guess it will be same for all. I do get encouraged by fans and their support during bouts."

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