Asian Games: IOA adds asterisk to selection criteria, leaving door open for agitated wrestlers, and confusion

The IOA’s second statement read: “To maximise the chances of sending the most competitive wrestling team to the Asian Games 2022, the final assessment of the wrestling team will be made prior to the departure of the team for the competition.”

However, this raised further doubts since they did not specify the parameters for the ‘assessment’ or how this assessment would be conducted.

The IOA’s ad-hoc committee, which handles the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) day-to-day affairs, had given exemptions to Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia (65kg freestyle) and Vinesh Phogat (women’s 53kg) from the Asian Games trials, which are to be held on July 22-23.

\The Olympic Council of Asia had earlier agreed to extend the deadline till July 23 to submit names for the Asian Games, to be held from September 23 to October 8 at Hangzhou in China. The ad-hoc committee had also stated that trials would be held in the 65kg freestyle and women’s 53kg categories as well, but unlike the other 16 weight classes, those winning the trials in 65kg freestyle and the women’s 53kg categories would be reserves.

Ruffled feathers

Wrestlers like U20 world champion Antim Panghal, U23 Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal and Vishal Kaliraman had been angered by the ad-hoc committee’s decision. Antim and Sujeet had approached the Delhi High Court on Wednesday appealing for the court to set aside the exemptions, a throwback to the Narsingh Yadav-Sushil Kumar saga ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Both Bajrang and Vinesh, who won medals at the World Championships in 2022, were at the forefront of the protests against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh since the start of this year. While Bajrang is currently training in Kyrgyzstan, Vinesh is in Hungary at the moment. Both grapplers haven’t competed for over half a year now.

Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ravi Dahiya was not handed an exemption despite him fitting the criteria for one under the WFI’s selection policy.

The policy, under which the IOA ad-hoc committee gave Bajrang and Vinesh exemptions, states: “The selection trials in all weight categories are mandatory. However, the Selection Committee will have the discretion to select the iconic players like medallists of Olympic/World Championship without trials provided recommendation by Chief Coach/Foreign Expert.”

The ad-hoc committee, meanwhile, is yet to announce dates for the trials to pick a team for the World Championships.

In a video posted on social media earlier, Antim questioned the basis for the exemption handed to Vinesh.

“On what basis is Vinesh being sent? Sakshi Malik is also an Olympic medallist. So is Ravi Dahiya. Neither of them have been handed an exemption from the trials. So what’s special about Vinesh that she is being sent? Just have trials in all categories. I’m not claiming that I will defeat her. There are others who can defeat her. Vinesh has not practised in a year. How will she win a medal like this? Should we quit wrestling?” asked Antim.