The 2017 Ashgabat Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will be held from 17-27th September 2017.
The Australian team will contest three sports – weightlifting, wrestling and taekwondo – as one of 45 participating nations competing in the Turkmenistan capital.
Among the six wrestlers selected include Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games wrestlers Rupinder Kaur and Carissa-Jane Holland, who will compete in their respective female 48kg and 53kg categories.
In an interview with SBS Punjabi, Mrs Kaur has expressed her happiness and optimism for the upcoming competition.
“I am quite excited to compete at Ashgabat 2017. The President of Wresting Australia, Mr John Saul rang me yesterday to confirm my participation. I look forward to represent Australia at this prestigious martial art competition,” Ms Kaur told .
Chef de Mission of the Australian team and president of Wresting Australia, John Saul, said the AIMAG opportunity for Australia’s youthful team will be an invaluable experience.
Rupinder Sandhu will compete in 48kg division at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Source: Supplied
“Asia is really one of the hubs for martial arts and strength sports,” Mr. Saul said.
While Kaur and Holland will provide some guidance for the younger members, Saul said the international exposure is what the team needs.
“Our sport [wrestling] is very small in Australia and the athletes are going to get some experience they otherwise would not have… and hopefully this will be very beneficial when they come up to 2020 and we compete in Tokyo.”
“With some of the world’s leading countries like Iran and Japan being there as well as the host country, Turkmenistan, it’s going to be a fabulous tournament, a real learning experience for our people.”
The Olympic village and competition venue are located in central Ashgabat, and the 30-venue Ashgabat Olympic Complex will provide a realistic Olympic like experience for Team Australia.
Source: Supplied
Rupinder represented Australia in the 2014 Commonwealth Games held at Glasgow, Scotland.
Rupinder migrated to Australia ten years ago from Punjab, India.
