Asian Games Trials: Delhi High Court Seeks WFI’s Response On Wrestlers’ Plea Challenging Exemption Given To Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought response of the Wrestling Federation of India on a plea moved by wrestlers Antim Panghal and Sujeet Kalkal against the exemption granted to Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia for Asian Games trials.

Justice Subramonium Prasad directed the counsel appearing for WFI to file the affidavit by today itself and listed the case for hearing tomorrow.

Both the wrestlers have challenged the decision of the ad-hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association granting exemption to Phogat and Punia in the trials for men's freestyle 65 kg and women's 53 kg categories earlier this month.

It is their case that the trials be held in a fair manner without granting any exemption to any wrestler and that the whole process must be videographed.

At the outset of the hearing today, Justice Prasad asked WFI’s counsel as to what was the basis of selecting Phogat and Punia other than the fact that they are good sportspersons.

“Have you any kind of selection process? Their entire case it seems is that there has to be some kind of trial. The petitioners do not doubt the competence or merit of the two wrestlers selected for representing the country. There is no doubt about it. What they say is that past performance alone cannot be basis for sending them,” the judge added.

Observing that the court cannot let matters drift, Justice Prasad listed the matter tomorrow, adding that there has to be some kind of reply filed by today itself.

“If it's (the selection process) is just and reasonable, I won’t interfere,” the court told petitioners’ counsel.

Title: SUJEET AND ANR v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS