Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik has firmly stated that she never sought any exemption from the Asian Games trials, even though the IOA ad-hoc panel offered to consider her case similarly to fellow wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia.
In light of the recent controversy surrounding exemptions granted to Vinesh and Bajrang without proper protocols, Sakshi, who competes in the 62 kg category, expressed her concerns. She believes that the move to exempt certain wrestlers from trials is an attempt by the government to disrupt the unity among wrestlers.
Sakshi, along with Vinesh and Bajrang, had been at the forefront of protests against the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who recently obtained bail after facing allegations of sexual harassment.
The issue escalated when Antim Panghal, the U-20 world champion, and Sujit Kalkal, the 65 kg grappler, sought intervention from the Delhi High Court to overturn the decision of granting exemptions to Vinesh and Bajrang.
Sakshi clarified that she is against exemptions and firmly turned down an offer that would have considered her name due to her Olympic medal status. She emphasized the importance of fair trials and asserted that she would not participate in any tournament without proper trials.
Addressing the concerns over the government's actions, Sakshi tweeted about her worries that this move might create discord among the top wrestlers. Despite their month-long protest against Brij Bhushan Singh, they are now being perceived as opportunists seeking an easier route to the continental showpiece.
Sakshi expressed her disappointment with the government's approach and its impact on the unity and integrity of the wrestling community. Her primary request was for fair selections and a chance for all athletes to prove their worth in the trials.
Also read: Wrestlers protest at IOA headquarters over Asian Games trials exemption, Yogeshwar Dutt also present