NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India has picked over 80 men and women grapplers to start its Olympic campaign in right earnest.

The men will travel to the high-altitude arena at Shilaroo in Himachal Pradesh for the month-long camp till June 15. The women wrestlers will train at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here for the same period.

The WFI is preparing the grapplers for the Commonwealth wrestling championship in Canada from June 17 to 23. The grapplers will also be participating at the Canada Cup afterwards.

The crucial test for the wrestlers will come in September at the World championship in Baku, Azerbaijan. This will be the best chance for the Indians to grab berths to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing as the World championship has maximum quota places on offer.

The wrestlers were selected after three days of trials held at the I.G. Stadium here from May 11 to 13. The trials were held soon after new office-bearers took over the functioning of the WFI. The Indian wrestling was mired in a court battle for over two years and a retired judge was appointed to look after the affairs of the federation. — Principal Correspondent

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