Navjot tops trials but misses berth

After a brilliant performance during the trials and assured of her spot in the Indian squad,Navjot Kaur was surprised to miss the cut.

After a brilliant performance during the trials and assured of her spot in the Indian squad,Navjot Kaur was surprised to miss the cut. The womens team for the World Wrestling Championship,to be held in Istanbul from September 12-18,was announced on Friday. The competition is one of the qualifying events for the 2012 Olympics.

The selection trials for the World Championship were held at the NIS,Patiala,on August 26. Navjot,competing in the 63kg category,had secured maximum points among the three wrestlers in the fray Alka Tomar and Anita Sheoran being the other two. However,Alka was named in the Indian squad. Alka didi lost to me while I lost to Anita during the trials. However,I had the maximum points during the trials and I was assured of a place in the team for the World Championship. So,I was shocked and disappointed when I was told my name was not on the list, Navjot said.

Navjot had impressed everybody with her attitude and talent,having emerged the most successful Indian woman wrestler this year after a successful transition from the junior level. At the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship at Tashkent in May,Navjot had been the lone Indian medallist with a bronze in the 67 kg category. She had also won gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Melbourne last month.

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The coaches and officials told me that I would make it to the Indian squad for the Olympic qualifiers. But Alka didi is senior to me and she has vast experience. Even if I am not in the team,I would want her to qualify for the Olympics, said 21-year-old.

National coach PR Sondhi is also upset with the team selection. On given form,Navjot is the best bet in the 63 kg category at the World Championship. The trials were held to pick the best player but that has not happened. I fail to understand why Navjots name has been excluded, he said.