Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat granted direct entries into Asian Games 2023

Bajrang Punia (L) (Pic: AFP), Vinesh Phogat (R)

The IOA ad-hoc panel on Tuesday granted Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat direct entries into the Asian Games 2023.

The decision was taken without the consent of the national chief coaches.

The IOA ad-hoc panel said in a circular that selection in men's freestyle 65kg and women's 53kg had already been made, but trials would be held in all six weight categories in each of the three styles.

The ad-hoc panel did not mention Bajrang and Vinesh in the circular but panel member Ashok Garg confirmed to PTI that the two wrestlers have been exempted from the trials.

The Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee made this decision just four days before the trials to select the Asian Games wrestling squad.

Also Read: Vinesh Phogat shares letter seeking additional time and not exemption from Asian Games trials

The Asian Games are scheduled to commence on September 23 in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

The greco-roman and women's freestyle trials are scheduled for July 22, while the men's freestyle trials will be held on July 23 at IG Stadium in New Delhi.

Bajrang, the 65kg wrestler, who was one of the six protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is currently training in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.

Vinesh, the 53kg wrestler who won the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games gold medal, is training in Budapest, Hungary.

The move to exempt Bajrang and Vinesh, however, has not gone down well with fellow competitors, who have threatened to move court.

Earlier, wrestlers, along with their parents and coaches, had criticised IOA's move to grant one-bout trials to protesting wrestlers.

Also Read: 'Bias is not good': Coaches, parents express displeasure over exemption given to six wrestlers

(With PTI inputs)