Highlights

  • Protesting wrestlers had contended that they are not in good physical shape to appear in trials due to their 38-day-long protest
  • The IOA ad-hoc panel had requested OCA to extend the deadline to August 10

Latest news

Tragic Holi Incident: Young man strangled in Rajasthan's Dausa

Tragic Holi Incident: Young man strangled in Rajasthan's Dausa

Ceasefire helps Ukraine, Putin aide criticises

Ceasefire helps Ukraine, Putin aide criticises

President Murmu's holi message: embracing unity and diversity

President Murmu's holi message: embracing unity and diversity

Aamir Khan celebrates 60th birthday reflecting on life, music

Aamir Khan celebrates 60th birthday reflecting on life, music

iQOO Neo 10R Review: Performance Champ!

iQOO Neo 10R Review: Performance Champ!

Gold handed to Ranya Rao for smuggling

Gold handed to Ranya Rao for smuggling

Tamil Nadu embraces Tamil symbol in state logo for budget

Tamil Nadu embraces Tamil symbol in state logo for budget

Court urges SP MLA Abu Azmi to exercise caution in remarks

Court urges SP MLA Abu Azmi to exercise caution in remarks

IOA ad-hoc panel pushes back decision on wrestling trials

Six wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, had requested the sports ministry to grant them additional time to prepare for Asian Games trials.

IOA ad-hoc panel pushes back decision on wrestling trials

The IOA ad-hoc panel members met on Tuesday but could not finalise a date to conduct wrestling trials for the Asian Games and World Championship as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) was still sitting on its request for July 15 deadline extension.

The IOA is supposed to give names of all participating Indian athletes to the Asian Games organisers by July 15 and it had requested them to extend the deadline to August 10 so that it could provide the protesting wrestlers enough time to be ready.

Six wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, among others, had requested the sports ministry to grant them additional time to prepare for Asian Games trials.

They had contended that they are not in good physical shape to appear in trials due to their 38-day-long protest against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The ad-hoc panel, on its part, had exempted them from Asian Games and World Championships trials and made it a one-bout affair, a move that invited criticism from all quarters.

"Wait for a day or two. We are hoping it (OCA reply for extension) should come in a day or two. Though we have not got any indication about the extension, we are hopeful of getting positive news by Thursday," Bajwa told PTI.

Wrestling coach Gian Singh, who was added to the ad-hoc three-member ad-hoc panel later, is hoping that OCA will eventually extend the deadline.

"It's not yet confirmed but I sense it will happen. There was a meeting today but no decision was taken. Now another meeting will take place on July 6. It means trials cannot be held on such short notice (before July 15). Mr Bajwa is not saying it openly. He is saying it will happen but he is not confirming it," added Singh, a Dhyan Chand awardee.

Singh, though, said he was certain the extension will come soon.

"I am confident that it (extension) will happen because if trials are held after July 6, there will be logistical problems. Are you not going to give time to wrestlers to prepare (travel plan)?" he said.

Meanwhile, indicating that things were far from ideal in the ad-hoc panel, Singh said Bajwa wants to take all the decisions by himself, giving a feeling that the previous WFI setup was still in place.

"Bajwa doesn't talk much with us. We just come out of compulsion. I come (for meetings) because I don't want the wrestlers to suffer," said Singh.

He urged Bajwa to interact with other ad-hoc panel members and inform them about the developments. The other day (previous meeting on Friday), I said we don't discuss anything. He said, 'we do meet'. Sharing pleasantries doesn't mean meeting or discussing issues.

"We sat even today, but didn't take any decision." The coach lamented that the purpose of serving the wrestlers was being lost by not discussing about trials and competitions.

"We are not talking about trials. He's saying once the letter comes (from OCA) and we get clarity on dates (extension), only then we can proceed. It is confirmed that he is taking advice from the WFI officials who controlled the sport earlier," alleged Singh.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up Next

IOA ad-hoc panel pushes back decision on wrestling trials

IOA ad-hoc panel pushes back decision on wrestling trials

Uttarakhand’s Suraj Singh sets 1,000m national youth record

Uttarakhand’s Suraj Singh sets 1,000m national youth record

Rohit, Kohli's Dandiya triumph in India’s Champions Trophy victory

Rohit, Kohli's Dandiya triumph in India’s Champions Trophy victory

PCB protests ICC exclusion of CEO from Champions Trophy ceremony

PCB protests ICC exclusion of CEO from Champions Trophy ceremony

Axar Patel set to lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

Axar Patel set to lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

Ministry restores control to WFI under Sanjay Singh's leadership

Ministry restores control to WFI under Sanjay Singh's leadership

ADVERTISEMENT

editorji-whatsApp

More videos

Controversy & Triumph: India's glory in Champions Trophy 2025

Controversy & Triumph: India's glory in Champions Trophy 2025

Rohit Sharma dispels ODI retirement rumors post champions trophy win

Rohit Sharma dispels ODI retirement rumors post champions trophy win

'We stayed unbeaten despite losing five tosses': Rohit Sharma reacted

'We stayed unbeaten despite losing five tosses': Rohit Sharma reacted

Rohit Sharma shines in India's Champions Trophy triumph over New Zealand

Rohit Sharma shines in India's Champions Trophy triumph over New Zealand

Ashwin clarifies remarks on Varun's early role in Champions Trophy final

Ashwin clarifies remarks on Varun's early role in Champions Trophy final

India's 2025 Champions Trophy Triumph: A tale of redemption and resilience

India's 2025 Champions Trophy Triumph: A tale of redemption and resilience

Champions Trophy 2025: 7 Trophies and counting…A look at the ICC tournaments won by Team India

Champions Trophy 2025: 7 Trophies and counting…A look at the ICC tournaments won by Team India

Rohit, Rahul, and spinners power India to third Champions Trophy triumph

Rohit, Rahul, and spinners power India to third Champions Trophy triumph

Controversy surrounds Mohammed Shami over Ramadan fasting

Controversy surrounds Mohammed Shami over Ramadan fasting

Gillespie blasts Gavaskar for 'absolute nonsense' talk

Gillespie blasts Gavaskar for 'absolute nonsense' talk

Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.