Commonwealth Game 2022: Wrestling Bouts Halted After Speaker Falls From Ceiling

Only five wrestling bouts could be completed when a speaker fell, raising a security and safety issue at the Ceventary Stadium and Arena on the opening day of wrestling events.

A speaker fell near one of the mat chairmen, raising a security and safety issue at the Ceventary Stadium and Arena. (Getty Images / representative image)

Source : Getty Images

Wrestling At Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham: In what can be seen as a huge embarrassment for the organizers of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022, wrestling bouts were halted just minutes after the first session began. A speaker fell from the ceiling, and spectators were asked to leave the hall. Only five wrestling bouts could be completed when a speaker used to relay announcements, fell near one of the mat chairmen, raising a security and safety issue at the Ceventary Stadium and Arena on the opening day of wrestling events.

The unfortunate incident took place right after India's star wrestler Deepak Poonia's match ended. Punia won his opening match in the 86kg category. The spectators gathered there were asked to vacate the venue and the organizers ordered a thorough investigation. The restart time for wrestling bouts was fixed at 12:45 (local time).

Wrestling will resume in one hour. We'll restart at 12:15 (local time 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿). We apologize, wrestling fans. https://t.co/pXwoUiQyey

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) August 5, 2022

“All are safe, they are just rechecking the whole system to avoid any untoward incident,” a coach was quoted as saying by PTI.

Wrestler Bajrang Punia through to quarterfinals in the 65kg category!

India's star wrestler Bajrang Punia took less than two minutes to beat his opponent to qualify for the wrestling quarterfinals of the 65kg category in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Friday.  Punia registered an easy win in the opening round by knocking down Nauru's Lowe Bingham.

Bajrang will now face Olympic bronze-medallist Jean Gayliane Joris Bandeau of Mauritius. Other Indians competing in the men's freestyle event on Friday are Deepak Poonia (86kg) and Mohit Grewal (125kg). In the women's event, Anshu Malik (57kg), Sakshi Malik (62kg) and Divya Kakran (68kg) will present the Indian challenge.