Wrestling Nationals: Stars missing, chance for youngsters to shine

All eyes will be on Bajrang Punia in the absence of the big names. (File Photo)

Just two days after her semi-final bout in the Pro Wrestling League, Geeta Phogat was back at the KD Jadhav stadium. Only this time she wasn’t there to compete. She was there to perform the duties of mentor and sister.

The 27-year-old will be in the stands to cheer her younger sister Ritu Phogat at the 18th Female Senior Wrestling Nationals that begins in New Delhi from Tuesday. Geeta has decided to skip the Nationals owing to very little recovery time from the 18-day long gruelling wrestling league.

“It’s difficult to recover after a long competition like the Pro Wrestling League. Our bodies take a lot of strain when we cut weight to compete in our category,” Geeta explains. “But I will there to support my sister as she is competing,” she added.

Geeta is not the only star wrestler who has decided to give the tournament a miss. The likes of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Narsingh Yadav, Amit Dahiya too will be missing from the 60th Men’s Nationals, to be held simultaneously.

While 2015 World Champions bronze medallist Narsingh and Sushil Kumar, both 74 kg category grapplers, have decided to skip the event, a knee injury has forced both Yogeshwar and Amit to sit out of the competition. Amit, a wrestler in the 57 kg, didn’t compete in a single PWL bout while Yogeshwar was forced to sit out towards the business end of the league.

With the big names missing, Bajrang Punia has become the star attraction for the young wrestlers set to take part in the nationals. But the wrestler from Haryana is not thinking much about it and is focussed on his bout. “All the wrestlers are tough this time around. Preparation is a must before every bout,” he said.

In the women’s category, barring Babita Kumari, most others are expected to take part. Babita, last year’s gold medallist in the 55 kg category, has had an eight-day break after her team, UP Warriors, failed to reach the knockout phase of the PWL. “Vinesh, Ritu and my other sisters are participating, but Babita is not sure,” Geeta said.

The nationals may be less on star power but it doesn’t make the other wrestlers’ job easier. “Every one knows that Haryana dominates the game but there will be a tough fight between Railways and Services this time. Young players like Nitin Rathee, Rahul Mann, Dinesh Kumar are strong contenders in their respective categories,” Kudeep Malik, coach of the Railways team, said.

“Also, it is sad that players like Parveen Rana and Gurpal, who finished on the podium last time, will be missing the tournament due to injuries. But this is a great opportunity for the young and new wrestlers,” he added.

Tomorrow’s key match-up would likely be between junior Worlds silver medallist Ritu Phogat and the defending champion Nirmala Devi, who is looking for her seventh consecutive crown in the women’s 48 kg category. The two recently faced each other twice at the recently concluded PWL, with Ritu winning on both occasions.