Coaches, Parents Of Young Wrestlers Demand Withdrawal Of Trials Exemption For Sakshi Malik, 5 Others

Wrestling coaches and parents band together to demand the withdrawal of exemptions from Asian Games and World Championship trials for Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and three others.

Wrestling coaches and parents are divided over the decision to exempt Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and three other wrestlers from Asian Games and World Championships trials. On Friday (June 23), the coaches and parents of several established and upcoming wrestlers argued that the selection process for these important events should be fair and objective. The ad hoc panel of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is facing backlash for allegedly favouring exempted wrestlers such as Sangeeta Phogat, Bajrang's wife, Satywart Kadian, Sakshi's husband, and Jitender Kinha.

It is to be noted that these six wrestlers staged a sit-in protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), accusing him of sexual harassment against multiple women wrestlers. As stakeholders seek transparency and equality in the selection process, the demand for exemption withdrawal grows.

Dayanand Kalkal, coach of fast-rising wrestler Sujeet, who is emerging as a worthy opponent to Bajrang in 65kg, Anshu and Sonam Malik's fathers, and Vikas Bhardwaj, coach of U-20 world champion woman wrestler Antim Panghal, have all condemned the IOA panel's decision.

"I spoke with Bhupender Singh Bajwa (head of the WFI ad-hoc panel) and told him that this is a bad decision. Trials should be fair and impartial. He listened to me and assured me that they would revoke this exemption," Kalkal was quoted as saying by PTI.

"He also stated that the trials would be held by the new federation following the July 11 elections. Let's wait and see what happens," Kalkal added.

While Vinesh and Bajrang are well-known wrestlers, the exemption granted to Kinha, Sangeeta, Sakshi, and her husband Satyawart has enraged the wrestling community.

"In the last two years, Jitender has not won a single trial. How can you put him straight into the final?" asked a Maharashtra wrestler who did not want to be identified, according to the PTI report. 

Sakshi had struggled to beat up-and-coming Sonam Malik in recent 62kg trials, while Kinha has not been a regular member of the Indian team in international tournaments.