Asian Games 2023: Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat exempted from trials

By
Rajini Gurram
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Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat have been exempted from the selection trials to choose the Indian wrestling team for the Asian Games 2023.

The ad-hoc panel did not name Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat in the circular. However, ad-hoc panel member Ashok Garg confirmed that the two have been exempted from the Asian Games trials.

Asian Games trials will be held on July 22 and 23 at the Kedar Jadhav Hall in New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium. The trials will be conducted in all 18 Olympic weight categories – six each for women’s and men’s freestyle.

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat are experienced wrestlers. They have won many medals in their respective categories over the years. However, neither wrestler has competed in any international event this year due to their protest against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

According to Deccan Herald, The Indian Olympic Association and ad-hoc panel said in a circular that it has already selected the wrestler 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 reaction of the other wrestler is, “Vinesh (Phogat) is being sent directly, she doesn’t have any achievements in the last one year but despite that, she is being sent directly. Even in the Commonwealth Games trial, I had a 3-3 bout with her. Then too, I was cheated…A fair trial should be conducted.” says Antim panghal in the,practicingvideo.