Bajrang takes break due to elbow niggle

New Delhi, April 29

Star wrestler Bajrang Punia will miss a short training stint in Bulgaria due to an elbow niggle that caused him to miss the final at the recent Asian Wrestling Championships in Almaty.

“I am feeling better. It is good to take a break and prepare for the main tournament in July,” Punia said.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had organised a short camp in Sofia, which is also the venue for the world Olympics qualifiers scheduled to be held from May 6 to 9. Punia expressed his inability to train in Bulgaria as he is recovering from the minor injury sustained in Almaty, said a WFI functionary.

He had dominated his preliminary and semifinal bouts of the men’s 65kg freestyle event during the Asian Wrestling Championships. However, he pulled out of the final against Japanese Takuto Otoguro and returned with a silver.

Haryana’s Sonam Malik, who has qualified for the Olympics in the women’s 62kg category, is also nursing a knee injury and is out of training for the next three weeks. She had injured her knee during the semifinals at the Asian Olympic qualification tournament held in Almaty earlier this month. She had withdrawn from the gold medal match and had to settle for silver. Due to this injury, Sonam didn’t compete in the Asian Wrestling Championships. — IANS