Nepal Wrestling Association on Sunday started a preliminary closed camp training for the 13th South Asian Games scheduled for December 1-10 in Kathmandu.

A total of 40 wrestlers-20 men and 20 women-have been kept under training at a covered hall in Hetauda, informed chief coach Bramhadev Prasad Yadav. Bramhadev said the wrestlers were selected following a district-level qualifier which was held around the country. They were joined in by 12 other wrestlers who are affiliated with departmental teams.

Yadav said the closed camp will run for the next two months after which 22 players will make the cut for second round of closed camp. “The NWA will then manage training for the players in Iran and India. We are planning to take all 40 wrestlers for foreign training but if that doesn’t materialise, we will definitely take those who make the cut for second round of camp,” said Yadav.

Among those in the preliminary camp includes 12th South Asian Games silver medallist Saroj Yadav in the 65kg weight division, Suresh Chunara in 70kg division, Baijanath Yadav in 74kg division and Raj Yadav in the 125kg division. Coach Bramhadev said the Yadav trio and Chunara have greater chances of striking medals in the impending South Asian Games on home soil.

Bramhadev is also counting on Mamisa Singh, Shiwangi Dube and Sangita Dhami to land medals in the Games. All three women have arrived for the camp having trained for six months in New Delhi, informed the coach. Singh fights in 50kg, Dube in 53kg and Dhami in 55kg weight division.

Bramhadev is also counting on home advantage to secure better results in the Games. “We are expecting to secure at least three gold medals this time. The home support will be key to our wrestlers’ success,” said Bramhadev despite being aware of the fact that Nepal have ever struck a single gold medal in the history of the Games.