United World Wrestling announces Senior Wrestling championship in Serbia in December

United World Wrestling (UWW) has announced it will be hosting the Senior World Championship in Serbia, Belgrade from December 12 to 20 later this year while the Junior Worlds have been cancelled owing to the Covid-19 situation across the globe.

With regard to the 2020 Senior World Championship, 70% of the participating countries have confirmed their participation, hence, the UWW decided to keep this event in Belgrade but the tournament is dependent upon the participation figures that will be collected and obviously on the evolution of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The deadline to send entries for the event is 5th November and the UWW Executive Committee will meet again on 6th November 2020 to check the number of entries received and discuss current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world. During this meeting, a final call will be taken on whether to hold the event or cancel it in lieu of the developing situation with regard to Covid-19 and travel restrictions considering the event will be held in Serbia.

Only four wrestlers from India have secured a quota for the Tokyo Olympics next year :

1. Bajrang Punia

2. Deepak Punia

3. Ravi Kumar

4. Vinesh Phogat

National wrestling camp for the mens team started in September 2020 in SAI Sonipat centre while the women’s team is expected to train in SAI Lucknow. A few wrestlers had tested positive for Covid-19 but all have recovered now and resumed training and practice for the Tokyo Olympics in July next year.