Senior Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia issued a strong statement regarding their exemptions from trials for the upcoming Asian Games, and the subsequent petitions filed by junior wrestlers.
On July 18, the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) ad-hoc panel revealed that Vinesh and Bajrang would be exempted from selection trials for the Asian Games. They were handed a direct entry through the 'iconic players' provision, where wrestlers who have won medals in Olympics or World Championships could be selected directly for the team on recommendation of the coaches.
MORE: Why were Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia exempted from Asian Games trials?
Though Vinesh and Bajrang fit the bill as far as their achievements go, the direct selection for the men's freestyle 65kg and the women's 53kg categories were reportedly made without the consent of national coaches.
The selection trials did take place, on July 22-23, for the rest and the winners of their respective categories have been named as stand-by for the Asian Games -- Antim Panghal for Vinesh and Vishal Kaliraman for Bajrang.
The ad-hoc panel's decision did not go down well with the wrestling community.
What did Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia say about the selection row?
Antim and fellow wrestler Sujeet Kalkal approached the Delhi High Court to appeal the exemption but their petition was dismissed. Vinesh and Bajrang are currently outside the country training, and both appeared live on social media to respond to the situation unfolding.
"Who is running away from trials?" Vinesh said. "We have always been ready for trial. Have we fled the country? We had only demanded time for practice."
Bajrang said, “It was said that there are three-four wrestlers who can beat Vinesh but dear Antim, Vinesh has not lost (as yet), and will not lose."
"Antim, you said you became first Indian to win U-20 championship but Vinesh is also the only woman wrestler to have won two world medals. You filed a court case against us?”
Vinesh further emphasised that she and Bajrang were happy to see junior wrestlers stand up for themselves but also said, "The effort that they have put in getting these trials, if that much they had done at dharna, Brij Bhushan (Sharan Singh) would not have been outside today and all of us would have been wrestling."
MORE: Where are Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat training before Asian Games?
How have Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia performed in the past?
Vinesh Phogat has won two bronze medals at World Championships (Nur-Sultan 2019 & Belgrade 2022). The 28 year-old has also won 4 gold medals, one at the 2018 Asian Games and three in the Commonwealth Games.
Bajrang Punia won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and won gold at the same Asian Games as Vinesh. In addition, he has two Commonwealth golds and two Asian Championships golds to his name, as well as an Arjuna Award, won in 2015.
Part of the reason the two were exempted from trials was because of their past record representing India, but the decision clearly has been poorly received by many. The reaction in turn has not gone down well with the duo in question.