24 July 2023, 02:00 AM IST
Kozhikode
:Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Vijay Dahiya suffers shock defeat in Asian Games wrestling trials. In the men’s 57kg category, Maharashtra’s Atish Todkar beat Asian Championship and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Dahiya (20-8). With this, Dahiya was out of the Asian Games. World Championship medalists Anshu Malik and Saritha More, who sprained their legs in the trials, will also not be able to participate in the Asian Games.
Bajrang Puniya and Vinesh Phogat, who were on strike demanding action against ex-president Brij Bhushan Sharansingh in the sexual harassment case, were directly qualified while Sakshi Malik and Sangeeta Phogat, who were on strike with them, will not be able to participate in the Asian Games as they did not participate in the trials.
Asian Games participation of junior world champion Antim Pangle, who won the trials, is also not guaranteed. The ad hoc committee had directly qualified Vinesh Phogat in the same body weight. Antim, who approached the court against the relaxation of trials for some actors, is currently Vinesh’s standby. Antim can participate only after Vinesh withdraws.
In the women’s 53kg category, Pangle got a bye in the first round and later defeated Tamannaah, Neha in the semis and Manju in the finals. The final was over in two minutes. Immediately after the final fight, the Delhi High Court dismissed the petition filed by Antim and Sujeet Kalkal questioning the relaxation of trials for Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Puniak. Justice Subramaniam Prasad said that the wrestling federation has clear policies for team selection and according to that, Vinesh and Bajrang Punia were excluded from the trials and they do not intend to interfere in this.
Antim said that he will approach the Supreme Court against the verdict. Sarita More defeated Anshu Malik (6-4) in the first round of women’s 57 kg category. However, in the semi-finals, Sarita was beaten by World Championship bronze medalist Mansi Ahlawat. Jakarta Asian Games medalist Divya Kakkaran also failed to qualify. Kiran, who defeated Divya in the women’s 76 kg category final, will participate in the Games.
Eleven wrestlers, including six Greco-Roman wrestlers, have been selected for the Asian Games. The men’s team trials in freestyle are not known.
Wrestling Team for Asian Games: Freestyle – Women-Pooja Gehlot (50kg), Vinesh Phogat (53kg, standby-Antim Pangle), Manasi Ahlawat (57kg), Sonam Malik (62kg), Radhika (68kg), Kiran (76kg).
Greco-Roman: Gyanender (60 kg), Neeraj (67 kg), Vikas (77 kg), Sunil Kumar (87 kg), Narinder Cheema (97 kg), Naveen (130 kg).
2023-07-23 20:30:00
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