Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Monday announced his decision to stop using all his social media accounts in order to focus on his preparations for the Tokyo Olympics happening later this year. He added that he will return to using social media only after the Olympic Games were over.
He also asked his followers to shower him with their love and support.
“Mein apne sabhi social media handles ko aaj se band kar raha hu. Ab Olympic ke baad aap sabhi se mulaakaat hogi … ummeed karta hu aap apna pyaar banaye rakhenge ….. jai Hind (I will be holding off all activity on my social media handles from today. I will meet you all after the Olympics. I’m hoping that you will keep showering me with your love),” Bajrang tweeted.
“Mein apne sabhi social media handles ko aaj se band kar raha hu. Ab Olympic ke baad aap sabhi se mulaakaat hogi … ummeed karta hu aap apna pyaar banaye rakhenge ….. jai Hind (I will be holding off all activity on my social media handles from today. I will meet you all after the Olympics. I’m hoping that you will keep showering me with your love),” Bajrang tweeted.Bajrang will compete in the 65-kg freestyle category. He earned a quota for the Tokyo Olympics in September 2019 after winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. The 27-year-old last took part in a competitive international event in February 2020 at the Asian Senior Championships in New Delhi before all sporting activities were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Tokyo Olympics, which was scheduled to be staged last year, was postponed by a year and will open on July 23. The nationwide Olympic torch relay is due to begin on March 25.
Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had said that he is highly optimistic about India’s chances in the quadrennial event, adding that the contingent will make the country proud.
“Tokyo Olympics got postponed by one year, but the dates are the same. Because of COVID, the precautionary measures and protocols need to be regulated, every country is preparing for the Olympics. Tokyo Olympics would go ahead, there is no doubt about it. Olympics will go ahead and India will do well too,” Rijiju had said.
The sports minister also said that Olympics-bound athletes will be vaccinated before the event once COVID-19 warriors are vaccinated.