HC seeks WFI’s stand in plea against exemption given to Bajrang, Vinesh from Asian Games selection trials

At the outset Justice Prasad asked the counsel appearing for the “Ad-hoc Committee” running the WFI about the basis for selecting Punia and Phogat and whether any selection process had been carried out. The plea has been filed by wrestlers Sujeet Kalkal and Antim Panghal. The Ad hoc committee was formed by the Indian Olympic Association.

“The entire case is that there has to be some kind of a trial. The petitioners do not doubt the competence or the merit of the two wrestlers whom you have selected for representing the country. What they are saying is that past performance alone cannot be the basis of sending them,” the HC orally observed.

The court thereafter asked the WFI to file a status report today in the matter observing that it “cannot let matters drift”. “If it (selection) is just fair and reasonable then that is the end of the matter,” the HC said. Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah appearing for the petitioner wrestlers said that he too will file certain documents.

The plea also seeks that the directive for the Asian Games trial with respect to the 65kg (freestyle) and 53 kg (women wrestling) categories be quashed. It further seeks that the exemption granted to Punia and Phogat be also set aside and that the trial process be carried out in a “fair manner under the supervision of WFI qualified referees, umpires and officials” and the same be videographed.

The plea filed through advocate Akshay Kumar states selection of athletes for international events without any trials by the selection committee goes against the “very definition of free and fair selection procedure and is completely discriminatory against other athletes of the same event”.

The petitioners are aggrieved by the WFI’s “Directive for Asian Games 2022 Trials” which categorically states that as per the “WFI Regulations of Selection Trials, the Selection Committee has already selected wrestlers in 65 Kg (Free Style) and 53 Kg (Women Wrestling) for Asian Games”. It further provides that the trial for the said two weight categories will be held and the selected wrestlers will be kept on stand-by.

According to WFI guidelines, the selection trials in all weight categories are mandatory for Asian Games/Olympics/Commonwealth Games. However, the selection committee will have the discretion to select the iconic players like medallists of the Olympics/World Championships without trial provided it has been recommended by the chief coach/foreign expert.

The plea claims that there are no foreign experts and the decision to exempt Punia and Phogat has been taken without any recommendations from the chief coaches and the same is “arbitrary and unfair”. The plea states that while the petitioners have “been working really hard to clinch their position”, Phogat and Punia have not participated in any competition this year and were also not part of the national camp.

On Tuesday the IOA’s ad hoc committee granted exemption to Punia and Phogat from competing in the selection trials for the Asian Games. The selection trials for the Asian Games will be held in Delhi on July 22 and 23, with Greco-Roman and women’s bouts on the first day and men’s freestyle on the next.

The plea also claims that Punia and Phogat last competed in the Commonwealth Games 2022 and World Championships 2022, adding that a “fair opportunity should be granted to the Petitioners and trial should be conducted to decide the selection of Athletes for participation in the Asian Games” and no exemption should be granted to any Athlete.