- WFI ad-hoc panel granted direct entries into the Asian Games to Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat.
- After this, young wrestler Antim Panghal, who competes in the 53kg questioned Vinesh’s selection.
- ‘Vinesh got entry despite not practicing for the past year’
- “Last year, in the Junior World Championships, I won a gold medal and became the first woman wrestler from India to achieve this feat. In the 2023 Asian Championships, I won a silver medal, but Vinesh has no achievement to show in the last year.” the 19-year-old pointed out.
- “When the CWG trials were taking place, I had bouts against her, then officials cheated me.” She said.
The Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) ad-hoc panel surprised one and all as it granted direct entries into the Asian Games to Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat. The decision has not been well received. It has been taken without the consent of the national chief selectors and annoyed many other wrestlers and coaches.
Moreover, the WFI made it clear that trials will still take place for all six weight categories across the three styles of wrestling despite them already selecting the wrestlers for the men’s freestyle 65kg and women’s 53kg categories. After this big step, young wrestler Antim Panghal, who competes in the 53kg category and lashed out at the decision and questioned Vinesh’s selection.
In a video, Panghal silver medalist in the senior Asian Championship stated, “Vinesh Phogat has been given direct entry for Asian Games despite that she has not been practiced for past one year. I won the gold medal in the 2022 Junior World Championship. Even in the Commonwealth Games trial, I had a 3-3 bout with her. Then too, I was cheated. Should I quit wrestling? All I want is a fair trial. I’m not saying that only I can defeat her, there are many women wrestlers out there who can do so.”
Further, Panghal reminded one and all of her recent feats and mentioned Vinesh has no significant achievement under her belt. “Last year, in the Junior World Championships, I won a gold medal and became the first woman wrestler from India to achieve this feat. In the 2023 Asian Championships, I won a silver medal, but Vinesh has no achievement to show in the last year. She was also injured,” the 19-year-old pointed out.
Panghal further highlighted, “Sakshi Malik has also won an Olympic medal, she too is not being sent. What is so special about Vinesh is that she is being sent. Just organize trials.
She asserted, “When the CWG trials were taking place, I had bouts against her, then officials cheated me. I said koi nahin (it’s okay), I will try to qualify for the Olympics by going to the (Hangzhou) Asian Games. But now they are saying they will send Vinesh. This is not done. They are also saying that the one who goes for the Asian Games will also go for the World Championships. And, the one who wins a medal at the Worlds will go to the Olympics (in Paris). We have also been training hard for years. So, what about us?” In addition, Panghal said, “Should we leave wrestling? Tell us on what basis is she (Vinesh) being sent.”
It is to be noted that Panghal has made heads turn of late with her performances. The teenager became India’s U-20 World Champion in 2022 and clinched the silver medal at the senior Asian Championship early this year. Bajrang and Vinesh, on the other hand, have displayed exceptional performances in the past but their participation in international tournaments in the ongoing calendar year has been non-existent following their protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for sexual harassment.
The forthcoming Asian Games will commence on September 23 and conclude on October 08. It will take place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
(With inputs from agencies)
