Revealing the difficulties faced by Indian athletes heading into the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG), Wrestler Bajrang Punia has become the latest player from the Indian contingent to complain about not getting proper help going into the quadrennial event.
Bajrang, who won a Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year has alleged that his physio has not been included in India’s contingent for the Birmingham games. The star Indian wrestler has claimed that the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) have not granted an United Kingdom (UK) visa to his physio despite being with him in the United States of America (USA) for training. He further claimed that he has spoken to IOA officials but nothing has been done about the issue.
“The federation has arranged a UK visa for my physio and he is with me here in the US but I don’t know what will happen after that. He will travel with me to Birmingham but what is the point of having him if he is not given accreditation. He will not have access to venues,” said Bajrang to Hindustan Times. “I have also spoken to IOA officials but so far nothing has happened,”he added.
It is worth remembering that Bajrang has just recovered from a serious knee injury and is coming into the CWG after a lengthy rehabilitation process. However, Bajrang’s personal coach Sujeet Mann is part of the contingent that will fly to Birmingham.
Bajrang’s accusation have come hours after fellow Tokyo Olympics Bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain sparked a storm on the internet by alleging mental harassment by officials and revealing that her coaches have beet not been granted accreditation for the Commonwealth Games.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games will see India send a very strong 322-man contingent to the UK. The event will be held from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham.
