Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat Will Not Go Through Selection Trials For Asian Games; Know Why

Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who won medals at the World Championships and organised the demonstrations against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, have been granted an exemption from trials for Asian Games.

Other protesting wrestlers, like as Sakshi Malik and reigning Olympic silver medalist Ravi Dahiya, have not received the same kindness. The Asian Games selection trials will take place in New Delhi on July 22 and 23, with women’s and Greco-Roman bouts taking place on the first day and men’s freestyle on the second.

World Championship selection trials

Six weight categories, including the classes of Bajrang (65 kg) and Vinesh (53 kg), will have trials in all three formats. Winners in those two categories, however, will be listed as reserves. There was no new information regarding the World Championship selection trials, which will take place prior to the Asian Games.The Asiad’s name submission date is July 23, while the Worlds’ deadline is August 15.

In its directive for the trials, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa – the member of the ad-hoc committee that’s responsible to discharge day-to-day activities of the WFI – wrote: “As per the WFI Regulations of Selection Trials, the Selection Committee has already selected Wrestlers in the 65 kg (free style) and 53 kg (Women Wrestling) for the Asian Games 2022. But the trial will be held for these weight categories and the selected Wrestlers will be kept on Stand-by.”

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India’s ‘Iconic Players’ Exempted from trials for Asian Games

‘Iconic players’ are qualified for an exemption from trials, according to the WFI’s selection criteria, which was in force before the federation was de-authorized in the wake of the sexual harassment lawsuit against Brij Bhushan.

“The Selection trials in all weight categories are mandatory,” the guidelines state. “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.”

Bajrang won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics and the World Championship last year, and Vinesh also placed third at the 2022 Worlds. However, Ravi Dahiya, who took home a silver medal in the Olympics in Tokyo, is also qualified for an exemption under the terms of the selection process.