Suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh has invited Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat, along with now-retired wrestler Sakshi Malik, to compete in national trials in March to decide the team for the Asian competition, including the 2024 Paris Games Qualifiers in Kyrgyzstan. The Wrestling Federation of India also announced dates to hold selection trials for an Olympic qualifying event for Paris-2024, along with the Senior Asian Championships scheduled in April, both in Kyrgyzstan.
The Wrestling Federation of India declared trials on March 10-11. The star wrestlers, whose names include Bajrang (65kg freestyle), Vinesh (55kg), and Sakshi (62kg), announced their retirement from the sport on the day when Sanjay Singh was elected president.
“I would like to bring it to the notice of all affiliated units of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that selection trials to select the teams for the following events, which are scheduled on 10th and 11th March 2024 at K.D. Jadhav Wrestling Indoor Stadium, IGI Sports Complex, New Delhi,” stated Sanjay Singh.
The trials will decide teams for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship to be held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) from April 11 to April 16, and the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Tournament to be held at the same place from April 19 to April 21.
“All state units are requested to intimate wrestlers, as per the list attached, to participate in said trials,” it added.
United World Wrestling (UWW) had lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) earlier this month.
The three wrestlers have been seeking Singh’s arrest for allegedly making sexual advances towards one of them. Last year, the WFI was suspended by the sports ministry, which created an ad hoc council to look after the sport’s affairs.
It had also ordered fresh elections, held in December last year. However, the newly-elected body, led by Sanjay Singh, was suspended three days later.
This will be in the 54 kg category, for which Antim Panghal has become the only Indian to qualify so far for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
