The ad hoc committee currently running the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) have allowed Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat direct entries into the Asian Games. This decision was reportedly made without the consent of the national chief coaches and is set to be challenged by other wrestlers and their coaches.
Sources have told Sports Tak that the ad hoc committee has decided on the criteria and that Vinesh and Bajrang will go for the Asian games directly. The same Sources added that trials are scheduled and will go on for other Wrestlers. Those who win in their weight categories will be on standby.
The IOA ad-hoc panel said in a circular that it has already selected wrestlers in men's freestyle 65kg and women's 53kg but trials will be held in all six weight categories in each of the three styles. The ad-hoc panel did not name Bajrang and Vinesh in the circular.
These two wrestlers have done well in the 65kg and 53kg categories but due to their protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, they have not competed in any international tournament this year. At the same time, Sujeet Kalakal and Antim Panghal have logged impressive performances in the same categories.
Antim had become India's first U20 World Champion last year and also won a silver medal at the senior Asian Championship this year. Sujeet is current U23 and U20 Asian champion. He also won a bronze at the U20 World Championship.
The panel did not favour four other protesting wrestlers -- Sakshi Malik, her husband Satyawart Kadiyan, Jitender Kinha and Bajrang's wife Sangeeta Phogat. The Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee took the decision just four days before the trials to select the wrestling squad for the Asian Games, scheduled to begin on September 23 in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
