Olympic Bronze medallist Bajrang Punia will not compete in the upcoming wrestling World Championships after being advised a six-week rehabilitation to treat the ligament tear he suffered in his right knee in run up to the Tokyo Games.
The World Championships will be held in Oslo, Norway from October 2-10 and Bajrang will not be able to begin his mat training until the rehabilitation programme is compete.
Bajrang recently underwent an MRI scan to know the extent of the injury he suffered in Russia in June before the Olympics.
“It’s a ligament tear and I have been asked to follow a rehabilitation programme for six weeks. I won’t be able to compete at the World Championship,” Bajrang said..
There is no ranking series event lined up in the remainder of the year and Bajrang said his season is over.
“The Worlds was the only major championship in the calender for this year. I don’t see myself competing in any other tournament this season,” he added.
Bajrang had suffered the injury in the run up to the Tokyo Games when he competed at a Russian tournament — Ali Aliyev in June.
“Since it was my first Olympics and I had a dream to win an Olympic medal, I competed through pain in Tokyo. I had to do it.”
Bajrang said he was not consulting any specific physiotherapist for his rehabilitation.
“I am doing it myself in Sonepat. The doctor has advised a few exercises, that I am doing everyday now in gym. The mat-training time will also go into the rehab,” he said.