The reigning U23 Asia𓂃n champion Sujeet Kalkal on Wednesday slammed the IOA ad-hoc committee for granting direct entry to Bajrang Punia for the Asian Games, saying it was unfair on the next-generation wrestlers who aspire to become Olympic champions.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) 𝔍ad-hoc panel, led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, on Tuesday, exempted Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang (65kg freestyle) Vinesh Phogat (53kg) from the Asian Games trials on July 22-23 here.
Kalkal, the U-20 world championship bronze medallist, said that there are at least 5-6 wrestlers in the 6꧒5kg freestyle cܫategory who are capable of beating Bajrang.
"I had wrestled with Bajrang a year back during the (Birmingham) Commonwealth Games trials, which was very c🎀lose. During the trials, Bajrang was handed a direct sꦐemifinals entry and we had to contest all the bouts," said Kalkal, the reigning senior national champion and last year's Junior Asian gold medallist.
Proving his point further, Kalkal said he had recently defeated American John Michael Diakomihalis by a comprehensive 8-2 margin while Bajrang had lost to th💛e same wrestler by technical superiority in the World Championships last year.
"For the World Championships too (in 2022), Bajrang was given entry to compete without trials. The American wrestler (Yianni Diakomihalis) agai༺nst whom Bajrang lost 0-10, I have beaten 𝐆him in the World Ranking series 8-2."
S🦹ujeet wo🦄n that Ranking Series event held in Tunis in July 2022.
"I don't say that only I can beat Bajrang.♌ There are no less than 5-6 wrestlers in our weight category w﷽ho can beat Bajrang. That's why all wrestlers should get equal opportunity and a fair trial should be held.”
"It is also my dream to become an Olympic champion but if these wrestlers (like Bajrang 💮and Vinesh) keep getting direct entries, then how will we fulfil our dreams,&q꧅uot; he added.
Asian Games will beg🤪in in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on September 23.
