Delhi High Court seeks response from WFI on plea against exemption from trial of Vinesh, Bajrang

New Delhi (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the ad-hoc panel responsible for Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) cases to explain the reasons behind exempting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from the Asian Games trials.

This came after a petition by U-20 world champion Anvil Panghal and U-23 Asian champion Sujit Kalkal, who challenged the decision to give direct entry to Vinesh and Bajrang.

Justice Subramaniam Prasad asked the WFI to submit its response during the day and said that if the basis of selection is fair and reasonable, there would be no problem. The court asked about the fame earned by both the selected players.

The petitioners state that there should be trials instead of relying only on past performance for the selection process.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, submitted before the court that the selection policy allows exemption for certain sportspersons, especially eminent athletes like Olympic/World Championship medalists, based on the recommendations of the head coach/foreign expert.

However, the counsel for the petitioners argued that the selection of Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia did not comply with the exemption policy mentioned by the WFI.

Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were directly selected for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association’s ad hoc committee, while other wrestlers will have to compete in selection trials on July 22 and 23 to secure their places in the Indian team.

Panghal and Kalkal have demanded a fair selection process for both the categories (men’s freestyle 65kg and women’s 53kg) and quashing of the IOA ad-hoc committee’s directive to exempt Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia.

The court has now listed the matter for July 21.