Narsingh Yadav returns to national wrestling as Olympics hopeful after 4-year doping ban

A day before his match at 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Narsingh Yadav was banned. One of most anticipate wrestlers in India at time, Yadav will be returning to mat after having served his four-year-long doping ban. 31-year-old wrestler is expected to join Indian wrestling national camp from next month. 

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Narsingh Yadav to make wrestling return as Olympics-hopeful by joining national wrestling camp next month

Competing in 74 kg freestyle category, 2010 Commonwealth Games champion will compete along with India's only two-time Olympic medalist – Sushil Kumar. However, Sushil Kumar has asked for permission from  Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to train alone at Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi. Or players are expected to reach camp in Sonepat on September 1.

In a statement to Hindustan Times, a senior WFI official spoke about Yadav being called for camp. y added that Kumar is training alone and will continue arrangement. "He will be called whenever selection trial is conducted,” y added. Apart from Yadav and Kumar, Jitender Kumar, Praveen Rana, Amit Dhankar and upcoming star Gaurav Baliyan will also compete in 74 Kg category. 

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Narsingh Yadav return: Narsingh Yadav doping ban and request to start training for Tokyo Olympics

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Tokyo Olympics were postponed to 2021, which gave Narsingh Yadav a chance to compete for Olympics. If Olympics took place this year, Yadav would have taken ar four years to participate. While Yadav's doping results were later found to be false, Mumbai-based wrestler was banned for failing test. Since ban has w ended, Yadav could face Kumar during  Olympic qualifiers' trials.

While talking to reporters, WFI assistant secretary Vid Tomar stated that Yadav is allowed to train after being cleared by committee. Tomar said that with his ban expired in July, Yadav all rights to train for Olympics as well. Sports Authority of India (SAI) had recently anunced training camps for elite wrestlers camps at Sonepat (men) and Luckw (women) from September 1 to 30. This camp will have athletes who have already qualified for or could qualify, for Tokyo Olympics next year.

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Sushil Kumar is facing a rough patch since his last few ouitings, which includes his opening-round exit from 2019 World Wrestling Championships. He also had to opt out of triials for  Indian team for Asian Championships because of his shoulder injury. In his place, Jitender Kumar represented and won a silver for India at 2019 Asian meet in New Delhi, which made him become a part of Indian team fro Asian Olympic Qualifiers. As WFI will conduct trials for Tokyo Olympics, Kumar has ar chance to compete. 

Also read | National wrestling camp for Tokyo Olympics to begin in Sonepat and Luckw from Sept 1

(Im credits: Narsingh Yadav Facebook)