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Olympian Deepak Punia and fellow wrestler Sujeet Kalkal were denied competing in the ongoing Asian Olympics Qualifiers on Friday, April 19. The Indian wrestlers, who were stuck in Dubai since Tuesday, April 16 did not reach the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek and thus resulting in the same.
Punia, who missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics and Kalkal however reached the host city, shortly after 8 am on Friday morning, but by then the weigh-in had already begun and the organisers refused to allow them participation. For a wrestler to participate in a bout, he/she first has to record their body weight and show that they meet the criteria.
In Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalkal’s case, the duo pleaded to the organisers, but the latter did not make any exemptions. It I to be noted that the two wrestlers along with their coach and physio were stranded at the Dubai International Airport in the flood-like situation. Moreover, with this, the two wrestlers have only one chance to make it to Paris 2024, that is the World Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in May 2024.
Aman Sehrawat to lead men’s team in 57kg
It is to be noted that in the absence of Deepak Punia, young star Aman Sehrawat will lead the men’s team in the 57kg category. The Indians qualification campaign at the Olympic Qualifiers will commence later in the day on Friday, April 19 with the men’s freestyle bouts.