The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Thursday issued a stern warning to Under-23 wrestlers, stating that withdrawing from the upcoming Asian Championships in Vietnam could result in their exclusion from the Asian Games selection trials scheduled later this month.
Background of the Warning
The warning comes after several prominent wrestlers decided to skip the U-23 Asian meet due to concerns over the tight schedule. Among those who have opted out are Deepak (74kg), Sumit (63kg), Rohit (97kg), Neha Sangwan (65kg), Mansi Lather (68kg), Amruta (72kg), and Kajal (76kg). The tournament in Da Nang is scheduled from May 22 to 26, while the Asian Games trials are set to take place just four days later: women's trials on May 30 in Delhi and men's freestyle and Greco-Roman trials on May 31 in Lucknow.
Wrestlers' Concerns
Wrestlers fear that the tight schedule will leave them with insufficient recovery time and force them to undergo rapid weight cuts twice within a week. This could impact their performance and health.
WFI Circular
The WFI circular, signed by president Sanjay Singh, stated: "The wrestling teams for participation in the above championship have already been selected, and all necessary formalities, including registration in UWW Athena, visa processing, and related documentation, have been completed. It has come to the notice of the federation that some selected wrestlers are attempting to withdraw their names from participation in the above championship. At this stage, it is not possible to make any amendment or replacement in the Indian squad already finalised and submitted."
The circular further added: "Any selected wrestler who withdraws his/her name from participation in the aforesaid championship shall not be permitted to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games."
Implications
This decision underscores the federation's firm stance on adherence to commitments and the importance of representing the country in international competitions. Wrestlers now face a dilemma: either participate in the Asian Championships with a tight turnaround to the trials, or risk missing the opportunity to compete in the Asian Games.
