Rio medalist Sakshi Malik to lead India in Asian Wrestling Championship

Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik will lead the Indian challenge in the Asian Wrestling Championship beginning here from May 10-14. 

Indian Wrestling Federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, briefing mediapersons here today, said India will field a 24-strong team for the Championship with eight each in freestyle, women and Greco-Roman category. In this event, 112 freestyle, 103 Greco-Roman and 83 female wrestlers will be vying for 24 gold and silver along with 48 bronze medals. 

The WFI president further said that Indian wrestlers will perform their best in this competition. Bhushan said Sakshi Malik has qualified by defeating Manju 10-0 in the trial for this competition and hopefully the wrestler who made history in Rio will make a new history in the Asian competition.

Sakshi made history by winning bronze at the Rio Olympics in August last year. This will be her first tournament after the Olympics. 

During this time, she got married to the wrestler Satyavrat Kadian. Satyavrat will also present his challenge in Asian wrestling as his weight class wrestler, Khatri, withdrew from the trial due to his marriage and Satyavrat got an opportunity to get into Asian wrestling.

Meanwhile, Bhushan defended Geeta and Babita Phogat's decision to train under their father 

Mahavir Phogat.

The WFI president admitted that he cannot force anyone to attend the national camp. "We can't force anyone to attend camp. They are seniors and if they decide their own training module, we have to allow them. That's why we encourage juniors in the camp," Bhushan said.

Speaking on foreign coaches, the WFI president said right now they don't have any, the ones they had before their contracts have not been renewed.

"We are in search of younger foreign coaches. The ones who are showing interest are not up to the mark and ones who are good aren't interested. It's a tricky situation," the WFI president said.