Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat granted direct entries for Asian Games, reports reveal.

HTML Subheading 1: Decision made without consent of national chief coaches

In a circular issued by the IOA ad-hoc panel, it was mentioned that the selection had already been made for the men’s freestyle 65kg and women’s 53kg categories, but trials would be conducted for all six weight categories in each of the three wrestling styles. However, the ad-hoc panel did not specifically mention Bajrang and Vinesh in the circular. Panel member Ashok Garg confirmed to PTI that the two wrestlers had been exempted from the trials.

HTML Subheading 2: Controversial decision made four days before trials

The Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc committee made this decision just four days before the trials to select the wrestling squad for the Asian Games, which are scheduled to begin on September 23 in Hangzhou, China. The trials for greco-roman and women’s freestyle are set to take place on July 22, while the men’s freestyle trials will be held on July 23 at IG Stadium in Delhi.

HTML Subheading 3: Wrestlers’ training locations

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

HTML Subheading 4: Opposition and potential legal action

The move to exempt Bajrang and Vinesh from the trials has not been well-received by fellow competitors, who have threatened to move court.

News Summary:

★The IOA ad-hoc panel has granted direct entries into the Asian Games to Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat.
★The decision was made without the consent of the national chief coaches.
★Trials for all weight categories in wrestling will be conducted, except for Bajrang and Vinesh.
★The decision was made just four days before the trials.
★Bajrang is currently training in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, while Vinesh is training in Budapest, Hungary.
★Fellow competitors have threatened to take legal action against the decision.

(With PTI inputs)