Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat exempted from trials, will be India's direct entry for Asian Games; Other wrestlers raise questions

19 Jul 2023 15:21:20
New Delhi, July 19: Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat last represented India at the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade in September 2022. In the corresponding 10 months, they didn't go to the competition arena even once and were busy with their protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
  
bajrang punia vinesh phogat asian games
This came after the ad hoc committee which was established by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has decided to give them an exemption from the trials. Reports suggest that there is a rule in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that if there is any situation where Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athletes need exemption (world champions and Olympic medalists) they can receive it.
 
As per the guidelines ad hoc committee can give exemptions to those athletes as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) didn't give an exemption to IOA. Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi Malik didn't receive an exemption because she is not a TOPS athlete and thus she has to appear for trials.
 
Now, for other wrestlers, they would have to book their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and 23.
 
Speaking on this, the reigning Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal questioned Vinesh Phogat's Asian Games trials exemption on Wednesday, claiming that not just she but many other Indian wrestlers are capable of defeating the famed grappler in the 53kg category.
 
Panghal, a 19-year-old from Hisar in Haryana who participates in the 53kg weight class, questioned why Vinesh was chosen since she hadn't been practicing for long. She is asked about the criteria for exemption through a video. "Vinesh Phogat has received a direct entry for the Asian Games when she had not done any practice in the last one year. She doesn't have any achievement in the last year," Panghal said in the video.
 
"Last year, in the Junior World Championships, I won a gold medal and became the first woman wrestler from India to achieve this feat. In the 2023 Asian Championships I won a silver medal, but Vinesh has no achievement to show in the last one year. She was also injured," she said.
 
"Sakshi Malik has also won an Olympic medal, she too is not being sent. What is so special about Vinesh that she is being sent. Just organise trials. I am not saying that I am the only one who can beat Vinesh. There are several other girls who can beat her," said Panghal.
 
 
"Vinesh Phogat has received direct entry for the Asian Games, when she had not done any practice in the last one year. She doesn't have any achievement in the last one year. Last year, in the Junior World Championships, I won a gold medal and became the first woman wrestler from India to achieve this feat. In the 2023 Asian Championships I won a silver medal, but Vinesh has no achievement to show in the last one year. She was also injured," she said.
 
"Sakshi Malik has also won an Olympic medal, she too is not being sent. What is so special about Vinesh that she is being sent. Just organise trials. I am not saying that I am the only one who can beat Vinesh. There are several other girls who can beat her," said Panghal.
 
Wrestler Vishal Kaliraman says, "Even I play in the under 65kg category and for the Asian Games Bajrang Punia has been given direct entry without any trial. They have been staging a protest for a year now, while we have been practising. We appeal for a trial... We don't want any favour or benefit. At least a trial should be conducted otherwise we are ready to go the court...We will appeal before the court. We've been practising for 15 years...If Bajrang Punia denies that he would not play in the Asian Games only then someone else will get a chance".
 
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