Decision to exempt Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from Asia Games trials will hurt wrestling in India: Brij Bhushan

By India Today Sports Desk: The recent decision by the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) ad-hoc panel to exempt wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from the Asian Games trials has sparked controversy within India’s wrestling community. The outgoing chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has expressed his disappointment over the decision, describing it as “unfortunate” and detrimental to the sport in the country.

Singh, who is currently facing sexual harassment allegations from female wrestlers, voiced his concerns in an exclusive interaction with PTI. He stated that the exemption would negatively impact the sport, which has seen significant growth due to the hard work of athletes, their parents, and fans.

“I am pretty anguished since the ad-hoc panel took this decision. It will hurt the sport of wrestling in this country. A lot of people have worked hard to lift this sport. The athletes, their parents, the fans of the sport, have all worked hard,” Singh said.

“Today, wrestling is one sport where an Olympic medal is considered guaranteed. And the decision that these wrestlers will go to a competition like the Asian Games, is an unfortunate one.”

“When all this (protest) began (in January), I used to think, why is it all happening? I had recited a poem back then (on social media),” he said.

The decision by the IOA’s ad-hoc panel has not only drawn criticism from Singh but also from junior wrestlers, particularly Antim Panghal and Sujeet Kalkal. These young athletes have openly slammed the panel’s decision and have taken legal action, demanding fair trials across all categories.

“I am remembering this poem again today because things are becoming crystal clear.”

Singh, who is also a BJP MP, revealed that they had previously ended the practice of giving exemptions to wrestlers as they realized it was adversely affecting junior participants.

Singh, who is currently out on interim bail and ineligible to contest the upcoming WFI elections due to the Sports Code guidelines, believes that the protest initiated by six wrestlers earlier this year was politically motivated. Despite the controversy, he chose to stand with the junior wrestlers, which he believes led to his current predicament.

“We did not send these wrestlers (to the Commonwealth Games) directly, though we gave them direct semifinal berths. We realised later that perhaps it is not right and that’s exactly why we discussed this issue at our Executive Committee, took advice from the coaches, studied the rules from other nations and passed the new rules at a General Body Meeting that such exemptions would be not be given to any wrestler in any situation.”

“I myself did not make this rule, unilaterally. It was widely discussed and then a decision was taken.”

The decision to exempt Punia and Phogat from the trials caused widespread confusion and discontent within the wrestling community. The 19-year-old Panghal, along with several other wrestlers and their families, took to the streets in Hisar to protest against the ad-hoc panel’s decision.