19-year-old Indian wrestler Amit Panghal won the Asian Games trials without breaking much of a sweat in the 53kg category, however, despite all her efforts, she will be a standby for Vinesh Phogat, who has got a direct entry into the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, as per the decision of the IOC Ad-hoc Committee. Panghal has been against the exemption from the very beginning and had moved the Delhi High Court against it. However, after the HC rejected his plea, Panghal is set to move the Supreme Court.
Vinesh Phogat (53kg) and Bajrang Punia (65kg), who were at the center of a 38-day-long protest against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment, were exempted from the Asian Games trials. And Panghal said that she is not going to back down and will fight for her chance, as she herself has accepted that she deserves it.
Former U-20 world champion Panghal said, “I won the trial fairly. Why should I be a standby player, I won the trial. One who did not compete should be a standby player in 53kg. My petition has been rejected, but I will not stop, I will keep fighting, we will go to the Supreme Court,” Panghal was quoted as saying by PTI after winning the women’s 53kg trial.
Panghal, who won her three bouts against Tamannaah, Neha in the semifinals and Manju in the final, asked tough questions and asked what her victory meant for Phogat if she was to make it to the Asian Games.
PTI quoted Panghal as saying, “If he keeps getting direct entry like this, how will anyone know how good we are? We will keep trying. My coach will decide what we are going to do next, but the fight will go on. What does it mean for me to win three bouts?”
“I know she is very good and has many medals, but she will have to compete against us in the trials,” she said. She said that she will now prepare for the World Championship Trials.
The women’s and Greco-Roman trials will take place on Saturday 22 July while the men’s trials will take place on Sunday.
Here are the results of the women’s trials: list of winners
Pooja Gehlot – 50kg
Vinesh Phogat (trial won by Antim Panghal) – 53kg
Mansi Ahlawat – 57 kg
Sonam Malik – 62 kg
Radhika – 68kg
Kiran – 76 kg