Wrestlers mobilized against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have started training with their teammates to prepare for the Asian Games trials. Wrestlers are practicing at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Sonepat. 

Vinesh Phogat, one of the prominent faces of the protests, had visited the center for practice on 9th June, while her cousin Geeta Phogat also hit the mats for the trials. Geeta took a maternity leave after the National Championships in Gonda in November 2021 and is now making a comeback to competitive wrestling. 

She is accompanied by her husband Pawan Saroha, who is also a wrestler. Geeta’s younger sister Sangeeta is also at the center along with her husband and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia. 

Women wrestlers usually from Lucknow National at SAI Center in gather for the camp, but in the wake of protests against Brij Bhushan, it is shifted to Uttar Pradesh was thrown out of the capital. A SAI source told PTI, “The protesting wrestlers have been away from the mat for a long time. Currently, these wrestlers are spending most of their time in the gym. 

Sangeeta is also working on ‘strength building’. The officer said, “Vinesh had come to this campus only on 9th June. Geeta is also coming regularly. It looks like normalcy is returning to the campus.” 

Bajrang and his partner Jitendra Kinha have already started training at SAI’s Bahalgarh centre, which hosts year-long national camps for men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers. 

The wrestlers on Friday approached the Sports Ministry with a request to hold the Asian Games trials in August, citing the need to regain fitness. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has sought a list of players by 30th June from all sports federations. 

The IOA will have to send the names of all participating Indian players to the OCA by 15th July as per the earlier deadline. The IOA, however, has approached the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) seeking time till 10th August for the wrestling.