Indian weightlifters are scheduled to compete on the Weightlifting World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Nevertheless, they’re in a state of limbo in the meanwhile as a consequence of new journey restrictions attributable to the brand new omicron variant of COVID-19.
Indian head coach Vijay Sharma mentioned they’re confused in regards to the competitors below the brand new circumstances. He revealed that the Uzbekistan Weightlifting Federation had assured them earlier that the Worlds would go forward as scheduled. The primary batch are set to go away on Wednesday. In an unique chat with Sportskeeda, Sharma mentioned:
“We’re not certain what is going on. I awoke right this moment and skim the information in regards to the world weightlifting championship that may get cancelled. We talked to UWF they usually instructed us the competitors will likely be held. It’s complicated now. For now, the primary batch of weightlifting will likely be leaving for Tashkent on December 3.”
Guests from 9 African nations and Hong Kong had been barred from coming into Uzbekistan below new journey restrictions amid the Omicron variant. All inbound and outbound flights to those nations will likely be grounded as of Friday (December 3).
Furthermore, weightlifters from one other 10 nations won’t be able to take part on the Worlds because of the 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Uzbekistan. These nations embody Australia, Britain and Italy, who’ve collectively entered 22 athletes.
A complete of over 60 weightlifters, together with eight from China, won’t participate within the marquee occasion. The quantity is predicted to develop within the coming days.
One other main downside for the IWF is the depleted variety of technical officers who will likely be unable to journey. With out them, conducting the competitors, as a consequence of run from December 7 to 17, will likely be almost not possible.
The Worlds’ physique is monitoring the scenario carefully. They’re anticipated to announce the cancelation of the weightlifting world championship tomorrow after session with Tashkent.
Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) President Sahdev Yadav mentioned they’re holding a detailed watch and can take obligatory motion if wanted.
What does the cancelation of Weightlifting World Championship imply for India?
The sporting calendar has been closely impacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commonwealth Championships is the primary qualifying occasion for subsequent 12 months’s Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham. It was set to coincide with the Weightlifting World Championships.
Nevertheless, below the present circumstances Australia, Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa and the British nations will skip the occasion. Of their absence, the Commonwealth Championships can not go forward.
As for the Weightlifting World Championship, it was vital for India to enhance the rankings for the CWG qualification. Vijay Sharma mentioned their possibilities for qualification will likely be hampered if the competitors will get canceled. Nevertheless, he discovered solace in the truth that the scenario would be the similar for everybody.
“Our foremost purpose was to qualify for the CWG in Birmingham. If the world championship will get canceled, our possibilities will get hampered. However then, the scenario is identical for everybody,” he mentioned.
That is particularly dangerous information for Jeremy Lalrinnunga, an excellent lifter who is without doubt one of the medal contenders in 67kg in Taskent.
“Jeremy has been coaching properly and could be very technical. The world championship could be an excellent testing floor for him. A cancelation will likely be dangerous information for athletes,” Sharma added.
For now, the one hope of salvaging the Weightlifting World Championships lies with the Uzbekistan authorities. In the event that they grant exemptions to groups flying in for the competitors, the Worlds can go forward. However then, there’ll nonetheless be hesitation amongst nations to journey for it.
ALSO READArticle Continues beneath
Additionally Learn: Challenges aplenty for organizing Professional Kabaddi 2021 at a single venue
