Bajrang calls for postponement of Games

New Delhi: Star wrestler Bajrang Punia today decided to donate his six months’ salary towards the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and called for postponement of the Tokyo Olympics. The 25-year-old is one of India’s medal contenders at the Games. Bajrang, the 2019 World Championships bronze medallist, works with the Railways as an officer on special duty (OSD). “I have decided to donate my six months’ salary,” Bajrang tweeted. Talking to PTI, Bajrang said, “Before the Olympics we have to fight coronavirus. If the situation does not improve, and continues for two-three months, it will be perfectly alright to postpone the Olympics. If it is held with coronavirus continuing to wreak havoc, a lot of the nations will not send their athletes. Already Canada and Australia have said they won’t send their athletes. What’s the point then. So it is not just India’s problem, it’s a global issue, which needs to be tackled first.” Bajrang is training at an apartment in Sonepat, while his coach Shako Bentinidis has left for Georgia.

Vinesh training at home

India’s foreign coach for women wrestlers, Andrew Cook, also left for the US a few days ago. Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat, another Indian medal contender at the Games, said she had been training hard and it did not matter what she felt about the postponement of the Games. “I am at my home and training has been good so far. Whatever I say, does not matter,” she said. PTI