Wrestler Reetika Hooda To Miss National Games Due To Shoulder Injury- Exclusive

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Wrestler Reetika Hooda, an Asian Championships bronze medalist in the women's 76 kg category, will not participate in the upcoming National Games due to a shoulder injury.

In November last year, Reetika claimed gold in the women's 76kg category at the World Military Championships.

However, the following month, she faced a tough loss to Priya Malik at the Senior National Championship in Bengaluru. Priya secured a commanding 10-0 victory by technical superiority, raising questions about Reetika's form at the time.

Reflecting on her injury, Reetika spoke exclusively to myKhel, "I will not participate in the upcoming National Games due to my shoulder injury and it has been over 1 month since I last practiced. After competing in the Nationals, my injury worsened, and I haven't trained since then. The doctor has advised me to avoid training or competitions for another month. I'm focused on recovering as quickly as possible."

The shoulder injury had also hindered her performance at the Nationals in Bengaluru. "I already had pain in my shoulder before, but it wasn't as severe, and I could still practice. However, the pain gradually increased, and I couldn't compete properly. An MRI later revealed swelling in my shoulder," the U-23 world champion shared.

Reetika also addressed her struggles during the Paris Olympics, where she lost her quarterfinal bout to Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy. "I did feel there was an injury in my shoulder during the Olympics, but it didn't feel weak enough to stop me from competing."

Uttarakhand is set to host the 2025 National Games from January 28 to February 14. Alongside this, U-23 Asian medalist Reetika will miss the Ranking Series in Zagreb. Scheduled to begin on February 5, the year's first international tournament holds crucial ranking points for the World Championships later this year.

As Reetika focuses on her recovery, she remains optimistic about returning to peak form in the near future.