Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat took to Twitter to share a letter the protesting wrestlers had sent to the Sports Ministry seeking the postponement of Asian Games trials. (More Wrestling News)
On June 22, the ad-hoc committee reduced the upcoming Asian Games and World Championships selection to one bout for six protesting wrestlers. All they have to do is beat the winners of the trials to secure their place in the Indian team for the two showpiece events.
As a result, the six wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Satywart Kadian and Jitender Kinha, got an exemption from appearing in the initial trials, which drew criticism from other wrestlers and their parents, who felt it was not fair.
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Yogeshwar Dutt, who won gold medals in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, criticised the decision and urged other wrestlers to raise their voices against it. Vinesh, in turn, lambasted the 40-year-old wrestler, calling him WFI President Brij Bhushan's 'lackey'.
In the letter shared with the Sports Ministry by the wrestlers, it is clearly stated that they only sought an extension for the trials, possibly after August 10, 2023.
In her tweet, Vinesh stated that the opposition wrestlers want to break their unity and that they will not let them succeed.
