Wrestling world Championships trials on Aug 25-26; Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat's participation unclear

The trials for the wrestling World Championships will be held on August 25-26 in Patiala, the ad-hoc panel announced on Monday, ending weeks of uncertainty around the selection competition but participation of Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat is not yet confirmed.

The exemption given to Punia and Vinesh from the Asian Games trials had created a huge furore with majority of the wrestling fraternity criticising the decision taken by the ad-hoc panel.

The IOA-appointed committee has decided not to give exemption to any wrestler for the Worlds trials; rather it is irritated that neither Bajrang nor Vinesh has confirmed participation.

An ad-hoc panel member, on conditions of anonymity, told PTI that if these two wrestlers do not want to compete, then actually there is no need to hold trials in all six Olympic weight-categories because the wrestlers have already been tested through the Asian Games trials.

The wrestlers have already complained that they were being asked to appear in the trials twice in a short period, saying it takes a toll on their health and could lead to injuries.

The World Championships, scheduled to commence on September 16, will serve as the first qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics.