Several youth wrestlers of national repute including the likes of junior world champion Antim Panghal have hit the streets to voice their displeasure against the Indian Olympic Association, and the ad-hoc panel’s decision to give Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia direct tickets to the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou. The duo was exempted from the Asian Games trials.
The disgruntled wrestlers gathered at Chhotu Ram Chowk in Hisar, Haryana, asking for fair trials of athletes before the showpiece event. Among notable figures, Panghal, family members of Vishal Kaliraman, who contests in Bajrang’s category were present.
Grapplers from the renowned Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi and Baba Laldas Akhada in Hisar, along with seniors from surrounding localities also took part in the demonstration.
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"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 come back tomorrow," said a frustrated Ram Niwas, Panghal's father.
Both Pangal, the U-20 world champion in 53kg and Sujeet Kalkal, a bronze medalist in the U-20 world championship, spoke against the ad-hoc panel’s decision in separate videos posted on social media.
Bajrang Punia, who competes in the men’s 65kg category and Vinesh Phogat in the women’s 53kg, were vital cogs in the prolonged wrestlers’ protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. They demonstrated against WFI boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is charged with numerous cases of sexual harassment.
