The Delhi High Court refused to interfere in the direct entry given to wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. Both the wrestlers have qualified automatically for the Asian Games without undergoing a trial.
Judge Subramaniam Prasad dismissed a petition filed by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalka that challenged the direct entry given to Phogat and Punia.
Other wrestlers must attend trials to qualify for the Asian Games.
The exemption was given by an Indian Olympic Association ad-hoc committee.
Lawyers representing Kalka and Panghal requested the High Court that it set aside the exemption granted to Phigat and Punia.
‘Petition dismissed’
However, the judge refused to entertain the petition. “Writ petition is dismissed,” said Justice Prasad. A detailed order is being awaited to understand the reasons behind this dismissal.
The court observed, “It is nobody’s case that [Bajrang and Vinesh] are not well known in their respective categories. In fact, both the athletes are in the World Top 10 rankings and, therefore, the categorisation of these athletes as elite athletes also cannot be said to be perverse or arbitrary.”
‘They are medal prospects’
Justice Prasad also said that any injuries to wrestlers Phogat and Punia during the trials might adversely affect India’s performance in the Games.
“The Asian Games are to begin in about two months’ time and in case injury is caused to the elite athletes, who are medal probables, the time for recovery is extremely low and, therefore, the decision taken by the Committee to exempt [Bajrang and Vinesh] from selection trials in order to ensure that they are not exposed to injuries during trials cannot be said to be arbitrary or capricious or perverse.”
Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat had accused the former Wrestling Federation of India head and BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing several female athletes.
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