INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: The six protesting wrestlers, who received exemption from Asian Games trials, on Saturday, denied demanding such a favour and
said they will quit the sport if such allegations are proved.After IOA ad-hoc panel's decision of a one-bout trial, the protesting wrestlers
have been facing opposition from fellow wrestlers over the last couple of days as London Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt questioned
if the grapplers were agitating to get such favours.Dutt had also levelled some other allegations and the trio of Bajrang Punia, Sakshi
Malik and Vinesh Phogat addressed their followers on social media, responding to the comments made by the former wrestler and now a BJP
leader."We did not ask for exemption from trials, just asked for time to prepare," said Sakshi Malik."We didn't take away anybody's rights
We had just asked for time as we have been away from wrestling for six months, but you are spreading wrong information," Malik, the 2016 Rio
Olympics bronze medallist, said.Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang said they will quit wrestling if it is proved that they had asked
for just one-bout trial for the Asian Games and World Championships."If you had problems about one-trial bout, you should have approached
the sports minister and asked on what basis they are taking the trials
But you chose to spread poison through social media," he said."We are ready to quit wrestling if it is proved that we asked for exemption
We never wrote any letter for exemption
If our elders feel that we have done anything wrong
We will quit."However none of the three wrestlers said if they are willing to compete in full draw and will not accept direct entry into the
final.It has been learnt that it was Gian Singh and Ashoak Garg, the two coaches who were added to the ad-hoc panel, who had sought
exemption from trials for six wrestlers.Both Gian Singh and Ashoak Garg were with the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar during their protest.Sakshi
asked Dutt to refrain from spreading wrong message that the six wrestlers "just wanted to win and participate in one trial.""In our life, we
have never gone without any trials and never ever deprived any junior," she said.Apart from this trio, Bajrang's wife Sangeeta Phogat,
Sakshi's husband Satywart Kadian and Jitender Kinha were given exemption.Dutt had posted a twitter video on Friday, questioning the logic
and criteria behind the decision.After Dutt's tweet, Vinesh had slammed Dutt, saying that the wrestling world will remember him for being a
spineless lackey of Brij Bhushan.Dutt was one of the six members of the oversight panel formed by the government to probe the sexual
harassment allegations against Singh.Bajrang also alleged that Dutt had participated in the 2015 World Championships despite being not fit
and it amounted to betrayal."In 2015, you (Dutt) betrayed the nation
You had gone for an ACL surgery just one month before the World Championships
The second person was Amit Dhankar
He could have qualified but due to your injury you neither played the tournament nor did you provide your weight (category)."Dutt was forced
to pull out of the 2015 Wrestling World Championships in the USA after being found unfit at the eleventh hour, leaving the Wrestling
Federation of India (WFI) red-faced.This remark was in response to Dutt' allegation that Vinesh had pulled out of Indoor Asian Games at the
Dutt had said she had got a spot on the Indian team without appearing and trials but later chose not to compete, ending India's medal
chances in that weight category.Dutt had also alleged that Vinesh had got her hisband's relative Om Prakash Dahiya a hefty Rs 25 lkah prize
money from the Haryana government though it was her real coach Mahabir Phogat who deserved the cash reeard
Responding to that Vinesh said, "You made a mistake
The amount was Rs 35 lakh
He deserved it because he trained me and worked hard
He is Dronacharya (Lifetime) awardee, he had trained more than 100 wrestlters." Vinesh also said she did no wrong by getting a posting of
"It was just a posting not Prime Ministership," she said.(With inputs from PTI)
