Deepak Punia among 3 Indian senior wrestlers to test positive for coronavirus

With the resumption of sports activities in India, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) begun the training camp for male wrestlers on September 1 at Sonepat. All players and support had to go undergo mandatory testing upon arrival according to the SOPs in place.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI), on Thursday, intimated that 3 senior male wrestlers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

One among the three infected wrestlers is world championship silver-medallist Deepak Punia who made it to the Tokyo Olympics. Apart from the Olympic-bound 86kg category wrestler, two other male wrestlers – Navin (65kg) and Krishan (125kg)- have also tested positive.

“Three senior men’s wrestlers, who had reported to the National Wrestling Camp at SAI Centre in Sonepat, have tested positive for COVID -19 virus,” the SAI said in a statement.

However, in this regard, WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar said that they have made no changes to the training schedule of the Men’s camp.

“They (the three) will be tested again after two days and if they return negative tests, they will be brought back. There is no threat to the national camp. It will continue. The wrestlers will begin training only after they complete their quarantine period of 14 days,” Tomar told PTI.

On Wednesday, Olympic-bound female wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her recovery as she returned negative results for the virus on Tuesday. The Rajiv Khel Ratna awardee, who competes in the 53kg category, has however chosen to remain in quarantine as a precautionary measure. The WFI training camp for female wrestlers has not yet started amid the pandemic.