Bajrang, Saroha receive financial assistance

The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved financial assistance for Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and para athlete (club throw F51) Amit Saroha.

Bajrang Punia of India poses during the Tokyo 2020 medal ceremony.

The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved a financial assistance of Rs 6.16 lakh for Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang Punia for the 18-day special training camp he undertook in Iran.

Bajrang was accompanied by his coach Sujeet Mann.

He is now set to be in action in the selection trials on March 24 at the KD Jadhav Wrestling Indoor Stadium in the national capital.

Bajrang, who will compete in the 65kg category, is looking to register his name for the Indian senior freestyle and greco roman style wrestling teams that will compete at the forthcoming Senior Asian Wrestling Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from April 24.

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He also has his eyes set on the Commonwealth Games this August and Asian Games after that.

"Whatever tournament comes until Paris, I'm going to give my best performance and my aim is to change the colour of my medal in Paris 2024," said Bajrang.

Similarly, the SAI training Centre in Lucknow too will conduct the selection trials for the India senior women's wrestling teams on March 25 to pick the team for the Mongolia event in April.

The MOC, meanwhile, has also approved a financial assistance of Rs 2.45 lakh for para athlete (club throw F51) Amit Saroha, under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for the fees towards his personal physiotherapist Ankit Rahodia from March 2022 to this year's Para Asian Games.

Amit is an Arjuna Award winner. Both Bajrang and him are a part of the TOPS core team.