World Wrestling Championship: Sandeep Tomar qualifies; unwell Bajrang Punia's selection postponed

New Delhi: Sandeep Tomar on Thursday qualified for the free style 57 kg category but a decision on Asian champion Bajrang Punia’s selection for the upcoming World Wrestling Championship has been postponed to next week since he is unwell. [caption id=“attachment_3442344” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Bajrang Punia. Instagram: @Bjarangpunia60[/caption] The rest of the squad for the tournament, to be held in Paris in August, was announced after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) conducted selection trials across weight categories at the SAI Training Centre in Sonepat. While Rahul Mann emerged the winner against his other opponents in the 65 kg freestyle category, he would have to lock horns with Punia before the Indian representative in the category is finalised. “Wrestler Bajrang submitted an application to the WFI office requesting that he was unable to participate in the trials due to viral fever and that final trials in his weight category may be held after his recovery. The federation, after consulting with the chief coach, has decided that the final trial between Rahul Maan and Bajrang will be held next week and the winner selected for the World Championship,” the WFI said in a statement. Bajrang is the highest ranked Indian male grappler (6th in his category) and one of only three in the top 20. The squad: Freestyle: Sandeep Tomar (57kg), Harphool (61kg), Rahul Mann/Bajrang Punia (65kg), Amit Dhankar (70kg), Praveen Rana (74kg), Deepak (86kg), Satywart Kadiyan (97kg), Sumit (125kg); Greco-Roman: Gyanender (59kg), Ravinder (66kg), Yogesh (71kg), Gurpreet Singh (75kg), Harpreet Singh (80kg), Ravinder Khatri (85kg), Hardeep (98kg), Naveen (130kg).