Yogeshwar helps Bajrang, gets SAI nod for US tourney

Wrestler Bajrang Kumar's scuttled trip to the USA for a crucial competition was brought back on track by Olympic bronze-medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, who convinced SAI officials here today to sanction his expenses for the Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament in Colorado Springs.
Miffed at the treatment meted out to his "younger brother" Bajrang, London Olympics bronze-medallist Yogeshwar met Sports Authority of India Director General Jiji Thomson and SAI's Teams Division head Rajinder Singh at the SAI headquarters.
He requested them to sanction Bajrang's travel, boarding and lodging expenses for the all-important fortnight-long training-cum-competition programme.
After his meeting with SAI officials in the afternoon, Thomson gave the go ahead for SAI to fund Bajrang's expenses for the tournament.

Bajrang has decided to leave on January 21 from the capital to join his other eight freestyle teammates, who had left on Wednesday accompanied by chief national coach Vinod Kumar.
"I have sanctioned his trip. He can leave for the US whenever he wants to. Yogeshwar and Bajrang met me today at my office and after a discussion with Rajinder Singh, I ordered that his funds should be immediately released," Thomson told PTI.

"We have also suspended a key project officer Satish Rana for allegedly tampering with the official document pertaining to Indian wrestling team's tour to the USA. We have initiated a detailed internal inquiry against him. He has claimed that he did it on the instructions of Wrestling Federation of India. We have enough documentary evidences against him to prove him guilty," he added.

After his meeting with SAI officials, Yogeshwar told PTI that he was deeply upset about the officials' refusal to bear Bajrang's expenses.
"I took the matter into my own hands and decided to meet SAI DG and requested him to release his funds. I am happy that SAI has accepted my request and allowed Bajrang to join his teammates there," said Yogeshwar.