By India Today Sports Desk: Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have received approval from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) for their international training camps. The athletes, who are part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), will travel to Kyrgyzstan and Hungary to enhance their skills and preparations for upcoming competitions.
Bajrang Punia, an Olympic medalist, will undergo a 36-day training camp in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat, a medalist at the World Championships, will begin her training with a week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, before proceeding to Tata, Hungary for an 18-day camp.
The Indian government will provide financial support for their travel expenses, including air tickets, board and lodging, camp fees, airport transfers, OPA (Out of Pocket Allowance), and other miscellaneous costs. The funding will also cover the expenses of their accompanying support staff, including coaches and sparring partners.
Vinesh Phogat will be accompanied by physiotherapist Ashwini Jeevan Patil, sparring partner Sangeeta Phogat, and Coach Sudesh, while Bajrang Punia will have Coach Sujeet Maan, Physiotherapist Anuj Gupta, sparring partner Jitender, and Strength and Conditioning expert Kaazi Hasan by his side.
The training camps in Kyrgyzstan and Hungary will provide valuable international exposure and practice opportunities for the wrestlers. Both Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are scheduled to depart in the first week of July, aiming to further strengthen their skills and increase their chances of success in future competitions.
Vinesh and Bajrang’s overseas training comes amid the ongoing fight between wrestlers and the Wrestling Federation of India. The WFI elections were recently rescheduled after disqualified state bodies could not come to terms with the International Olympic Association (IOA). The voting, which was supposed to take place on July 6, will now be held on July 11.