Delhi HC dismisses petition against Asian Games trials exemption given to Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia

Both wrestlers were given direct entry by IOA's ad-hoc committee.

The Delhi High Court, on July 22, upheld the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed ad-hoc body's decision to exempt wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from the Asian Games selection trials. Dismissing the petition filed by wrestlers Antim Panghal and Sujeet Kalkal, Justice Subramonium Prasad also refused to interfere in the matter.

The ad-hoc body had, on July 18, exempted Bajrang Punia (men's freestyle 65kg) and Vinesh Phogat (women's 53kg) from the selection trials and granted them direct entry for the Asian Games, while wrestlers in other categories will have to compete in the trials, taking place at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi on July 22 and 23, and earn their places in the squad for the Continental event.

Days after their announcement, Antim and Sujeet had released video statement demanding a fair selection trial and also moved the Delhi High Court challenging the exemption given and asking for the directive to be overturned. According to reports, advocates Hrishikesh Baruah and Akshay Kumar filed the suit.

The Court had sought a response from the ad-hoc committee on Friday and had set the judgement aside till Saturday after hearing both parties. The HC has now dismissed the plea.

Apart from Bajrang and Vinesh, Sakshi Malik was also reportedly given the offer to be exempted from the selection trials, but she refused.

According to the Rio Olympics bronze medallist, the decision to provide exemption has come about after the wrestlers protesting in Delhi's Jantar Mantar against the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh sought an extension in the selection trials date and requested for it to be moved to August.

However, with the extension not possible given the deadline to submit the squad list to the event organisers, the ad-hoc committee provided exemption to Vinesh and Bajrang making use of a specific clause in the WFI rulebook that mentions that although selection trials are mandatory, the selection committee will have the discretion to select Olympic/World Championships medal winners without trials.