Injured Antim pulls out of Asian Championships trials

Tribune News Service

Vinayak Padmadeo

New Delhi, March 1

While it is still not clear who amongst the protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, will miss the upcoming trials for the Asian Championships and the continental Olympics qualifiers, one big name will definitely be out.

Antim Panghal, who won the Olympics quota for the country in the women’s 53kg category after winning a bronze medal at the World Championships last year, is nursing a back injury and will not be seen in action during the trials set for March 10-11 in New Delhi.

Antim, who is Vinesh’s biggest challenger in the weight category, fell in her house and injured her back and has been advised rest.

Accordingly, she has requested the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to spare her from the trials.

The WFI has in principle agreed to give her a reprieve and has decided to hold a separate trial for Antim to check her fitness level. As per the plan, Antim will now fight the winner of trials at a later date.

“Antim is injured and has requested the federation to postpone her trial as she has barely trained for a month now. We have agreed but she has been asked to appear for a trial. She will be asked to

fight the winner in her category,” a WFI source told The Tribune today.

“She has been asked to send a formal letter in this regard. We have already made up our mind that she will be given a chance for sure. Besides, we want to make sure that none of our wrestlers get a direct entry as it will open up the debate of favouring someone over others,” he added.

Antim, who is the only Indian wrestler till date to win a quota for the Paris Olympics, was to get a direct entry for the championships from the ad hoc body. The Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad hoc body had courted controversy after deciding to send Bajrang and Vinesh directly to the Asian Games last year. Antim, Sujit Kalkal and Vishal Kaliraman threatened to sit on dharna. Antim also approached the Delhi High Court against the decision.

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