Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat will not get any exemption from Worlds Trials, informs WFI

Despite their consistent domination on the international circuit, the top Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat will not get an exemption from the WFI during the trials. The WFI is of the belief that all the wrestlers in the country should be given an “equal opportunity to qualify” for the Tokyo Olympics. The men’s trials will be held on July 25 in Sonepat while the women’s one will be played on July 26 in Lucknow. The team will be selected for the World Championship to be held in Kazakhstan from September 14-22 which will also be a qualification event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“We don’t want to deny opportunities to any wrestler who dreams of competing in the Olympics. World Championship assumes significance in that respect. Wrestlers in all categories are training hard and looking to create their own space. So all wrestlers have to go through trials, including Vinesh and Bajrang,” WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told PTI.

When asked about Sushil Kumar’s participation in the 74kg trials, Tomar informed, “If he wants to compete, we will allow him. We have not yet heard from him but if he is training in Russia, he must have Worlds in mind. Even if he informs us on July 23, he is in for trials.”

There will be a total of 18 categories in the Tokyo Games next year. Six events each in men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling will be there in the sporting extravaganza in Japan. The men’s freestyle will have competition in 57kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97kg and 125 kg while Greco-Roman style will offer medals in 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg. The women’s freestyle bouts will be played for the 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg and 76kg weight categories at the Olympics.