Bajrang and Vinesh get direct Asian Games berths

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and two-time world championships medallist Vinesh Phogat have been exempted from appearing in the Asian Games selection trials at the IG Sports Complex in the Capital on July 22 and 23.

- Avishek Roy

NEW DELHI: The two will get a direct entry to compete at Hangzhou in September-October. There was no exemption for the other four elite wrestlers who led the protest with Bajrang and Vinesh against former wrestling federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual harassment.

"As per WFI regulations for trials, the selection committee has already picked wrestlers in 65kg (freestyle) and 53kg (women's wrestling) for Asian Games. But trials will be held for these categories and the selected wrestlers will be kept on standby," said a directive issued by Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, member of the Wrestling Federation of India ad hoc committee. The statement also gives the criteria for short-listing wrestlers for the trials.

"The selection trials in all weight categories are mandatory, however, the selection committee will have the discretion to select iconic players like medallists of Olympics/World Championships without trials provided (there is) recommendation by chief coach/ foreign expert," the WFI regulations say.