The AIO’s ad hoc panel on Tuesday handed direct Asian Games entries to Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who were at the forefront of the protest against Singh.
Junior wrestlers, especially the most affected Antim Panghal And Subject Kalkalalso criticized the panel and dragged it to court, demanding a fair trial in all categories.
Singh, who is also a BJP MP, said they had ended the practice of giving wrestlers exemptions because they realized it hurt juniors.
“I have been quite distressed since the ad hoc panel made this decision. It will hurt the sport of wrestling in this country. Many people have worked hard to elevate this sport. Athletes, their parents, fans of the sport, all worked hard,” Singh told PTI in an exclusive interaction.
“Today, wrestling is a sport where an Olympic medal is considered guaranteed. And the decision that these wrestlers will compete in a competition like the Asian Games is unfortunate.”
Singh, who is on bail and ineligible to contest the upcoming WFI election due to Sports Code guidelines, believes the protest launched by six wrestlers was motivated.
“When this whole (protest) started (in January), I was wondering why all this was happening? I had recited a poem at the time (on social media),” he said and recited to the poem again pointing out that he had chosen to side with the juniors and thus gets himself in trouble.
Panghal, 19, along with several other wrestlers, their families and elders took to the streets of Hisar to protest against the decision of the ad hoc panel.
“I still remember that poem today because things are getting crystal clear.”
04:04
Vinesh Phogat is exempt from wrestling trials; object of other wrestlers
When told that even under his chairmanship, the WFI had exempted Vinesh, Bajrang and others from tryouts for the 2018 Asian Games and that even at the 2022 CWG tryouts the same wrestlers had received entries straight in the semi-finals, he admitted it was a mistake. .
“We didn’t send those wrestlers (to the Commonwealth Games) straight, although we did give them direct places in the semi-finals. We realized later that maybe that wasn’t fair and that’s exactly why we have discussed this matter at our executive committee, taken advice from coaches, studied the rules of other nations and adopted the new rules at the general assembly that such exemptions will not be granted to any wrestler in any situation.”
“I did not establish this rule myself, unilaterally. It was widely discussed and then a decision was made.”
The WFI passed the resolution Aug. 25 at its general meeting in Rohtak last year.
Singh chose not to speak when asked what he thought of the presence of Gian Singh And Ashok Garg as technical experts in the IOA ad hoc panel.
“Now I would ask you to let it go. These coaches’ knowledge of modern wrestling is another matter. I’m not speaking to the media now, but some issues were plaguing me, so I spoke today (on exemption granted to wrestlers),” he said.
