WFI shifts Worlds trials to Delhi for better seating capacities
The men's trials for the World Championships were shifted from Sonepat to Delhi's IG Stadium by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Tuesday since the former had no seating capacity. However, reports are also doing the rounds that lack of securities of referees was the main reason.
The apprehension of the unruly fans at the Bahalgarh complex was expressed by few referees, who had apparently asked the WFI to change the venue as they had safety concerns. To further complicate matters, the Bahalgarh Centre could have had difficulty containing crowd in the small hall at SAI centre.
Wrestling has often seen supporters getting unruly when they didn’t agree to the referee’s decision although WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar rubbished any security concerns.
"We have shifted the venue to IG stadium in Delhi because there is huge interest in World Championship trials. Fans, thousands in number, are expected to come and watch. The small wrestling hall at Bahalgarh cannot accommodate so many fans," said Tomar, reported PTI.
"No no. It's not about referees. Wherever the WFI conducts trials, the referees will have to report. It's about better management. IG stadium has good seating capacity and trials can be conducted smoothly there," he added.
The IG stadium has also witnessed ugly scenes last year during the 2018 Commonwealth Games trials when supporters of star grappler Sushil Kumar and Praveen Rana had exchanged blows. Sushil Kumar is expected to be present at the trials, scheduled at 8 AM on Friday.
It will hold trials for only six Olympic weight categories --57kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97kg and 125 kg, with the others getting conducted later. The trials for women has been scheduled to be held on Sunday in Lucknow.
