Bajrang Kumar gets SAI nod for USA tournament

Bajrang Kumar

Bajrang Kumar, World Championships Bronze medalist who was earlier asked to cover his own expenses to participate in the Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament to be held in Colorado Springs, has finally had his expenses sanctioned by SAI, following intervention by Olympic bronze-medalist Yogeshwar Dutt.

Yoheshwar Dutt met with the Sports Authority of India, Director General Jiji Thomson and Team Division head Rajinder Singh at SAI head-quarters, annoyed by the treatment of his “younger brother” Bajrang, by SAI. He requested the SAI for sanctioning the fortnight-long training-cum-competition programme’s expenses including travel, boarding and lodging of the wrestler.

Following the meeting, SAI official, Thomson vetoed to cover Bajrang’s expenses for the tournament. Bajrang will now leave on the 21st of January to join his teammates for the event, who had already departed on Wednesday, accompanied by the chief national coach Vinod Kumar.

“I have sanctioned his trip. He can leave for the US whenever he wants to. Yogeshwar and Bajrang met me today at my office and after a discussion with Rajinder Singh, I ordered that his funds should be immediately released,” Thomson said.

“We have also suspended a key project officer Satish Rana for allegedly tampering with the official document pertaining to Indian wrestling team’s tour to the USA. We have initiated a detailed internal inquiry against him. He has claimed that he did it on the instructions of Wrestling Federation of India. We have enough documentary evidences against him to prove him guilty,” he added.

Yoheshwar following the meeting with SAI said, that he was deeply upset with the official’s treatment of Bajrang and their refusal to bear his expenses.

“I took the matter into my own hands and decided to meet SAI DG and requested him to release his funds. I am happy that SAI has accepted my request and allowed Bajrang to join his teammates there,” said Yogeshwar.

Bajrang thanked Yogeshwar, saying that had it not been for his senior, his travel to the tournament would not have been possible.

“I am thankful to Yogeshwar bhai that he fought for me. I am relieved to know that I am going for the tournament. It feels great. Whatever happened today is because of Yogeshwar bhai,” said an elated Bajrang.

Yogeshwar went on to say, that had SAI not agreed to cover Bajrang’s expense, he would have sponsored the trip from his own pocket, which would have cost him about 4-5 lakhs.

“I just wanted him to go there and participate. He is a bright medal prospect. He will take my place after my retirement. He is the one who will compete in my weight category when I will hang up my boots,” he said.

Yogeshwar also said that the WFI should share the blame for this entire chaos.

“They did not send the entries on time, that’s what SAI DG told me. Bajrang’s name came very late and it wasn’t possible for SAI to act on such a short notice. WFI should be cautious in their approach and I will take up this matter with the WFI president.”

Yogeshwar added that Bajrang will compete in the 65kg category, in his place, as he will not be travelling to the USA to participate in the tournament. Bajrang had received this shocking news, that he will have to bear his own expense, if he wants to participate in the tournament hours before his departure.

SAI had approved eight freestyle grapplers, eight greco-roman and eight women wrestlers and the coaching staff for the event after FILA re-jigged the weight classes.