{image-beijing games_08042008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Patiala, Apr 8: Five Indian grapplers (freestyle) will vie for an Olympic berth during the Qualifying Tournament in Martigney, Switzerland, slated for April 18 to 20.

The Indian team, which will leave for Switzerland on April 15/16 comprises: Vinod Kumar (55 kg), Paramjit (74 kg), Parveen Shivale (84 kg), Naveen Mor (96 kg) and Rajiv Tomar (120 kg). P R Sondhi and G S Sangha will accompany the team as coaches, while Pawan Kumar (Punjab) and Ravinder Kalia (Railways) are the manager and referee respectively. Talking to UNI, P R Sondhi said that the Indian matmen lack vision as they do not maintain their body weight which places them at a disadvantage since they have to fight in higher weight categories.

''I am not very optimistic about the results of our matmen in Switzerland,'' he said candidly.

Till date, two Indian wrestlers have qualified for Beijing Olympics which kicks off on August 8. Sushil Kumar (66 kg) qualified for Beijing Olympics in World Wrestling Championship, held in Baku, Aizerbaijan, from October 13 to 18 and Yogeshwar Dutt (60 kg) qualified for Beijing Olympics in Asian Wrestling Championship, held in Jeju, Korea, from March 18 to 23.

The 4th and last Olympic Qualifying Wrestling Tournament will take place in Warsaw, Poland, from May 2 to 4.

According to Federation Internationale de Lutte Association (FILA), there are fourteen wild cards: seven for the host and seven for Oceania. A total of 344 men and women wrestlers will be competing for medals in Beijing Olympics.

UNI