Daily Times

LAHORE: After a gap of three years, Pakistan wrestlers will once again compete for medals in India as the country’s six-member wrestling team crossed the Wagah border on Thursday afternoon to take part in the Asian Junior Wrestling Championship in New Delhi’s KD Jadhav Wrestling Stadium. The young wrestlers will participate in the two-day freestyle category event starting from July 21. “Seven Pakistan wrestlers won seven medals (two gold, four silver and one bronze) at the 2016 SAF Games,” said s spokesman for the Pakistan Wrestling Federation “We are eyeing a similar tally this time around as well.” Wrestler Inayat Ullah will compete in the 65 kg event, Ghulam Ghous features in the 70kg event, Muhammad Usman is eyeing a medal in the 79kg event while Haseeb Mustafa will vie it out for honours in the 86kg category. Coach Sohail Rasheed along with Manager Muhammad Riaz are the team officials that have travelled with the young team.

“It’s my first tour of India and we want to raise the Pakistan flag high in India,” said young Inayatullah, who won a silver medal in the 69kg weight category at the Asian Cadet Wrestling Championship in Bangkok last year. “We are representing the country after two months of hard training and we are quite confident of winning a medal in this event. We have no security concerns or fears about travelling to India.” The wrestling team have a visa limited to the city of New Delhi and the host federation has directed them to stay limited to the stadiums and hotels only.

Published in Daily Times, July 20^th 2018.