Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia hit back at Yogeshwar Dutt over Asian Games trial exemption issue

Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have clarified that they never asked for exemption from the Asian Games trials.

Speaking on a facebook live, the duo said they were always ready to go through the trial process.Both wrestlers also hit out at Olympic silver medallist and BJP leader Yogeshwar Dutt, who criticised the decision of IOA’s ad-hoc panel.

"We are not against the trials. I can't blame Antim. She is not wrong. She is fighting for her right and we are fighting for our right. She is too young, she does not understand. But we are not wrong," Vinesh said.

"We fought against the system, against the powerful. We took blows on our heads, no one came forward (then).

"She says she was cheated, but did I cheat (during CWG trials)? If at all it was done, it was done by Brij Bhushan, or got it done. My job was to wrestle, and I did that.

"If she felt cheated then she should have gone to court at that time. It hurts. But I am glad the kids have started speaking, they are gathering courage now. It's positive for wrestling," said Vinesh, the two-time World Championship medallist.

Bajrang said they wanted to speak on the issue only after the trials and after the decision of the Delhi High Court order on the petition.

"It was said that there are 3-4 wrestlers who can beat Vinesh but dear Antim, Vinesh has not lost (as yet), and will not lose.

"Antim, you said you became first Indian to win U-20 championship but Vinesh is also the only woman wrestler to have won two Worlds medal. You filed court case against us?," he said.

The two senior wrestlers pointed out how Dutt himself had got a similar exemption for the 2014 Asian Games.The Delhi High Court had refused to interfere and dismissed the petition filed by wrestler Antim Panghal and Sujeet Kalkal against the exemption on July 22.

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