Wrestling trials: Vinesh Phogat wins 50 kg bout to keep Paris Olympics hopes alive after stalling proceedings in morning

There was drama at the ongoing wrestling trials in Sonipat on Monday after Vinesh Phogat refused to let the trials for the women’s 50kg and 53kg categories start. Vinesh demanded a written confirmation be given from the authorities that a final trial for the 53kg weight class category be held before the 2024 Paris Olympics. Vinesh, however, had turned up at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre to compete in the 50kg category.

After the ad-hoc committee agreed to her demand, Vinesh got the better of Shivani to win the 50kg bout 11-6 and book a place in the Paris Olympics qualification tournament in Kyrgyzstan in April. However, in the 53kg kg category, Vinesh lost her bout to Anju with a 0-10 scoreline via technical superiority.

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Vinesh previously used to compete in the 53kg category but has dropped her weight class to the 50kg category after Antim Panghal earned an Olympic quota in the 53kg. According to Article 7 of the United World Wrestling (UWW), a contestant may be allowed to take part in only one weight category in a single day. “Each contestant deemed to be taking part of his/her own free will, and responsible for himself/herself, shall be allowed to compete in only one weight category: the one corresponding to his weight at the time of the official weigh-in,” says Article 7 of UWW.

However, Vinesh appeared in two categories after seeking permission to compete in both the 50kg and 53kg category trials at the venue on Monday morning.

This, however, led to a discussion between the officials, and did not go down well with the wrestlers who were due to compete in the 50 kg category. They even complained to the officials. “We are waiting since the past 2.5 hours,” wrestlers were quoted as saying by PTI.

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Remember, the IOA ad-hoc panel has already announced that a final trial to pick India’s representative for the 53kg category would be held later and that the four best wrestlers would compete in that. The winner would then compete with Antim Panghal, and whoever wins in that will represent India at the Olympics.

“Vinesh wants an assurance from the government. Probably she fears that if WFI gets back the control, the federation may change the selection policy. But how can the government give assurance on this. The government can’t interfere in selection matters,” a coach who was present at the trials told PTI.

“Probably she wants to secure her future. If she loses 50kg trials today she wants to ensure that she remains in hunt in 53kg. If she finishes in top-4 today in 53kg, she remains alive for Paris Games qualification,” added the coach.