Wrestling Federation of India waits for foreign coaches ahead of Asian Games

The Wrestling Federation of India had last month put in a proposal for three coaches to prepare for the Jakarta Asian Games in August-September.

With just two days left for the national camp to begin, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is still waiting for government’s clearance for foreign coaches.

Indian wrestlers are awaiting foreign coaches ahead of the 2018 Asian Games to be held in Jakarta. (PTI)

The WFI had in February put in a proposal for three coaches to prepare for the Jakarta Asian Games in August-September. However, it is yet to hear from Sports Authority of India (SAI), which is supposed to clear the names and pay salaries.

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Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of WFI, says they were hoping for a favourable response from SAI last week. “We were hoping it would be fast-tracked as we have just three-and-a-half months to go for the continental event. However, there is still no information on the approval,” said Tomar.

Despite winning as many as 11 medals, five of them gold, at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, WFI has acknowledged that Asian Games will not be a cakewalk. India had won five medals, including one gold, at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. The WFI plans to appoint coaches till the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

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The men’s camp in freestyle and Greco Roman will be held in Sonepat, Haryana, while the women grapplers will be stationed in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Meena Bora, SAI’s regional director and head of TEAMS division that monitors preparatory camps for international competitions, wasn’t available for comments.