13-member Indian Wrestling team announced for Zagreb Open

The ad-hoc panel governing the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Tuesday announced a 13-member team for the upcoming Zagreb Open in Croatia after issues related to procurement of visas had been looked into.

The first world ranking tournament in the Croatian capital will be held from January 10 to 14.

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The WFI is being run by a three-member committee constituted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) after the Sports Ministry suspended the Sanjay Singh-led newly-elected sports federation owing to violation of its own constitution.

The ad-hoc panel is being headed by Bhupinder Singh Bajwa.

“Thanks to a timely intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs, the 25 Indians due to travel to Zagreb will complete the visa formalities on Wednesday,” Bajwa said in a press release issued on Tuesday.

“The team was facing difficulty in securing a visa appointment. However, the Ministry of External Affairs has helped the team in this regard.” The ad-hoc committee chairman said the Croatian Wrestling Federation Secretary-General Tin Bregovic had sent a letter of invitation for the 13 wrestlers, nine coaching and support staff and three referees.

“We have taken every step to ensure that the team reaches Zagreb well in time for the tournament,” Bajwa said.

“We have ensured that India’s Olympic hopefuls would compete in their respective weight class along with a 2kg weight allowance in the first ranking event of the Olympic year,” he said.

“We are confident that the 13 who will compete in Zagreb will make the most of the chance to prepare for the Asian Qualification tournament in April and the World Qualification tournament in May.”