Express View on wrestling selection controversies: Losing the grip

Wrestling selections are not immune to controversy. Every multi-disciplinary event arrives — this time the Asian Games — with its share of court cases and controversies. Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were granted exemption from trials and a direct entry into Asian Games as World Championship 2022 medallists. But other aspirants to the same spots have challenged the decision in court. Now the courts are looking up the laurels the duo have brought to the nation — a tough World Championship medal should suffice as a credential. Yet the question remains why the selection process often leads to controversies and rancour despite wrestling being one of India’s Olympic medal hopes.

There are no perfect answers given the various permutations wrestling has tried over the years — sending the quota winner to Olympics, exempting some but not all the medallists, and holding trials in some categories but not others. When done arbitrarily, the selections leave a whiff of inconsistency and make it difficult to follow any particular process as a precedent. Trials are sacrosanct in wrestling powerhouses like the US and Japan, processes set in stone, with no exemptions offered even for defending Olympic champions. However, the system works because this is announced well in advance and no one wavers from the rules. It is said that trials in these strong grappling countries are as intense as Olympic finals.

A trial where Vinesh and Antim Panghal face off will serve them well — the current form of neither is known. Vinesh drubbed Antim 7-0 the last time, but that was some time back. Antim too should be tested for she sometimes struggles to make weight. For the sake of match fitness and their own conditioning and preparedness, a single trial closer to the Games would make perfect sense. Because finally, at stake, is that Asian Games medal and India is unsure who is best prepared to win the coveted medal.