WFI Ad Hoc Panel Raises Eyebrows With Direct Asian Games Entries For Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat

The ad hoc panel did not name Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat in the circular but panel member Ashok Garg has confirmed that the two wrestlers have been exempted from the trials.

Bajrang, the 65kg wrestler, who was one of the six protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan, is currently training in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. ( Image Source :Getty Images )

New Delhi: The WFI ad hoc panel on Tuesday handed Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat direct entries into the Asian Games, a decision which was taken without the consent of the national chief coaches.

The IOA ad hoc panel said in a circular that it has already selected 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 ad hoc panel did not name Bajrang and Vinesh in the circular but panel member Ashok Garg confirmed to PTI that the two wrestlers have been exempted from the trials.

Also on ABP Live | First reaction of family after Bajrang Punia wins bronze

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 commence on September 23 in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

The greco-roman and women's freestyle trials are scheduled for July 22, while the men's freestyle trials will be held on July 23 at IG Stadium in New Delhi.

Bajrang, the 65kg wrestler, who was one of the six protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan, is currently training in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.

Olympians Bajrang Punia & Vinesh Phogat are all set to attend training camps in 🇰🇬 & 🇭🇺 respectively from the 1⃣st week of July 2023.

Take a look at their detailed proposals accepted by TOPS under @IndiaSports 👇 pic.twitter.com/HGJpT0aK02

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) June 29, 2023

Vinesh, the 53kg wrestler who won the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games gold medal, is training in Budapest, Hungary.

The move to exempt Bajrang and Vinesh, however, has not gone down well with fellow competitors, who have threatened to move court.

Also Read | Vinesh Phogat Shares Letter Seeking Additional Time For Asian Games Trials, Not Exemption

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)