New Delhi (Agency): Junior world champion Antim Panghal and other distinguished wrestlers have taken to the streets in a display of protest against a decision they call “unfair”. This decision, made by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc panel, exempts noted athletes Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from the Asian Games trials.
The protesting group, which included Panghal and the family members of Vishal Kaliraman, gathered at Chhotu Ram Chowk in Hisar. They are demanding that trials be held in all weight categories. Kaliraman competes in the same category as Bajrang.
Their cause was joined by wrestlers from the Baba Laldas Akhada in Hisar and the famous Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi, alongside elderly citizens from nearby villages. “We are here to protest against this decision of the IOA ad-hoc panel. We are here today and will decide later in the evening if we have to comeback tomorrow,” said Ram Niwas, Panghal’s father.
Bajrang and Vinesh, who have won the Tokyo Olympic bronze and World championship medals respectively, have led a month-long protest in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing WFI chief. Singh is facing multiple accusations of sexual harassment.
Panghal, a native of the Bhagana village in Hisar, released a video questioning the panel’s decision to exempt Vinesh from the women’s 53 kg freestyle category for the upcoming Hangzhou edition that starts on September 23. She claimed that she, along with many other wrestlers, have the potential to defeat Vinesh in the 53 kg weight category. Panghal expressed feeling “cheated” after supporting Bajrang and Vinesh in their protest against Brij Bhushan in New Delhi last January.
If the exemption for Bajrang and Vinesh is not withdrawn, Lilly Sisai, one of Panghal’s previous coaches, said that they plan to stage a protest at the IG Stadium in Delhi. This is where the trials are set to occur on July 22-23.