Explained: Why Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia's trial exemptions cannot be challenged | Asian Games 2023

The recent clamour about Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia getting exemptions from trials to participate in the upcoming Asian Games in China has brought the Wrestling Federation of India’s selection process under the scanner.

The Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc panel -- that is currently running the daily affairs of the WFI—has allowed the duo to take part in the continental multi-sport event but the move has seen their fellow grapplers move court against the decision. While there are set rules for the selection of wrestlers for big events like Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, the regulations give unbridled power to the selection committee and its head, which is the WFI president.

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It is important for the wrestlers to take part in the National Wrestling Championships to eventually make it to the Coaching Camp of the probables. However, this process is actually not mandatory. According to the rules, the selection is at the discretion of the WFI chief who may allow direct entry to an “iconic wrestler” or other wrestlers in the coaching camp at his will.

The Selection Trial Regulation says, “In exceptional cases, the President, WFI may permit an international wrestler who has a good track record but missed the last National Wrestling Championship for valid reasons to be admitted to the training camp… Iconic players like Olympic/ World Championship medal winners and last Asian Games Gold Medal winners may be included in the camp even if they miss the National Wrestling Championship.”

The regulations document on the WFI website states that trials are held once every 3-4 months. But this always proves to be a physically and mentally draining task for wrestlers, as they must cut and make weight for each event and trial.

The rules further dictate that it is upon the judgement of the Selection Committee to send wrestlers for competitions, “no wrestler can claim as a matter of right that he should represent the country in a particular competition.”

For the Olympic Games, the regulations clearly state that “if the trials are held, the quota winner will not appear in the initial trials in that particular category, rather he/she will compete with the winner of those trials. And if the quota-winner loses the bout to the trials' winner, he/she will be given one more opportunity to keep the quota through a second bout against the same opponent.”

The directives by the federation for the Asian Games Trials mention, “The Selection Trials in all weight categories are mandatory, however, the Selection Committee will have the discretion to select the iconic players like medalists of Olympic/World Championship without trials provided recommendation by Chief Coach/Foreign Expert.”

The lack of transparency in the regulations has been a bone of contention for a long time now and several wrestlers have taken legal actions and have protested these rules in the past.

The main challengers to Vinesh and Bajrang being given a free pass have been Antim Panghal and Vishal Kaliraman, the winner of the selection trials in the 53 kg category and 65kg category respectively.

The young duo might even knock at the doors of the Supreme Court after being turned down by the Delhi High Court. But clearly, based on the WFI regulations, the two youngsters clearly have a feeble case to make.