Controversy Erupts as Bajrang Punia & Vinesh Phogat Get Direct Entries for Asian Games

New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) ad-hoc panel made a controversial decision by granting direct entries to Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat for the Asian Games.

The national chief coaches were not consulted before this decision was taken. The Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc committee announced that trials would be held for all weight categories except for men’s freestyle 65kg and women’s 53kg, which Bajrang and Vinesh were exempted from.

The trials for greco-roman and women’s freestyle are set for July 22, while men’s freestyle trials will take place on July 23 in New Delhi.

Bajrang and Vinesh, currently training in Kyrgyzstan and Hungary respectively, are facing criticism from fellow competitors, who have threatened legal action.