We Only Requested Time for Preparation; We Did Not Request Exemption from Trials: Wrestlers
The protesting wrestlers, who were up against other wrestlers for requesting an exemption from the Asian Games trials, on Saturday denied asking the IOA for such a favor and threatened to give up wrestling if it were to be proven.
Yogeshwar Dutt, who won the bronze medal at the London Olympics, questioned on Friday if these grapplers were pushing for such favors and urged the younger wrestlers, their coaches, and their parents to speak out against this unfairness.
After going live on social media, Sakshi said, “We did not ask for exemption from trials; we simply asked for time to prepare.”
“You ought to have approached the sports minister if you had issues with the one-bout trial. But you went on social media and spewed poison,” Bajrang remarked.
“If it is shown that we requested an exception, we are prepared to give up wrestling. We have never submitted a letter of exemption.
Six protesting wrestlers—the trio, Sangeeta Phogat, Bajrang’s wife, Sakshi’s husband, Satywart Kadian, and Jitender Kinha—will need to win just one match against the victor of stage-one trials to earn a spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games and World Championships, according to the first report from PTI on Thursday.
Additionally, the wrestlers swore to keep fighting.
We’ll keep fighting until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is punished, Vinesh added. “We’re awaiting the chargesheet.”
For allegedly bullying female wrestlers, Sakshi, Bajrang, and Vinesh Phogat have called for the arrest of former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
