Coaches, parents express displeasure over exemption given to six wrestlers

The coaches and parents of several established and upcoming wrestlers on Friday expressed their displeasure over the exemption granted to Vinesh Phogat Sakshi Malik Bajrang Punia and three others from Asian Games and World Championships trials They demanded withdrawal of the decision saying the selection for these important events should be fairThe IOA adhoc panel after announcing onebout trial for six protesting wrestlers has been receiving criticism from the wrestling committee for displaying favouritismThese six wrestlers staged a sitin protest against outgoing WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh accusing him of sexually harassing several women wrestlersDayanand Kalkal coach of fastrising wrestler Sujeet who is emerging as a worthy opponent to Bajrang in 65kg fathers of youngsters Anshu Malik and Sonam Malik and Vikas Bhardwaj who coaches U20 world champion woman wrestler Antim Panghal have denounced the IOA panels decisionI spoke to Mr Bhupender Singh Bajwa head of WFI adhoc panel and told him that this is not a good decision Trials should be fair and without any bias He listened to me and also assured that they will take back this exemption Kalkal told PTIHe also said that the trials will be conducted by the new federation after July 11 elections Lets see what happens Kalkal addedWhen PTI contacted Bajwa to know if he has made any such promise he did not receive calls or respond to text messageWhile Vinesh and Bajrang are proven performers what has irked the wrestling fraternity the most is the exemption granted to Kinha Sangeeta Sakshi and her husband SatyawartAlso Read IOA adhoc panel makes it onebout trial for six protesting wrestlersJitender has not win a single trial in the last two years How can you put him directly in final asked a Maharashtra wrestler who did not wish to be namedSakshi had struggled to beat up and coming Sonam Malik in several 62kg trials in recent past while Kinha has not been on the Indian team in international tournaments regularlyThese are very important tournaments bias is not goodDharmendra Malik father of World Championship silver medallist Anshu said its not a regular trial a lot is at stake so there is no scope for any biasAsian Games come after four years The World Championship with Olympic qualification also comes after four years These are no ordinary trials Exempting these wrestlers from trials is absolutely wrong Dharmendra told PTIThe protest was to just get justice and now they themselves are inflicting injustice on other wresters he saidAll should compete in full draw All wrestlers are equals And if there is a weak wrestler he will become strong only after competing with the strong ones Isnt itAssured Asian Games participationRajender Malik father of Sonam Malik who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics said any wrestler who makes the effort to win the trial should be assured participation in at least Asian GamesWhat is the reward for winning four bouts in the first trials If they IOA have to give extra time to six wrestlers they can but any wrestler who is winning the first trial should be assured that he will go to Asian Games Later if he wins the second trial then he or she should go for World Championships alsoIsnt that fair You tell me said RajenderBhardwaj coach of Antim who is a good competition now for Vinesh also criticised the IOA panel for exempting protesting wrestlersThis is wrong We will protest against it This is not acceptable said BhardwajWith PTI inputs