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Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who received a temporary suspension by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for alleged indiscipline during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, will be eligible for this year’s World Championship. She has been let off with a warning on Wednesday. Two other wrestlers, Sonam Malik and Divya Kakran, too have been warned and will be in line to compete in the World Championship.
In a letter addressed to these aforementioned names, WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharam Singh said they will have no choice but to ban them for life if any such act of indiscipline is repeated in the future.
"Even though your written reply to the show-cause notice, which you had sent to the Wrestling Federation of India office, was not satisfactory, the Wrestling Federation of India wants to give you one more chance so that you can rectify your mistakes," Sharan wrote in the letter, dated August 24, 2021.
"Therefore, the Wrestling Federation of India’s disciplinary committee forgives you with a warning that if you repeat your mistakes, then the Wrestling Federation of India will be compelled to impose a lifetime ban on you," he added in the letter.
All three wrestlers will be able to participate in the selection trials: Vinod Tomar
The decision was reportedly conveyed to the concerned wrestlers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar has also gone on record that all three wrestlers will be able to participate in the selection trials for October’s World Championship in Norway. The trials will begin next week.
"We will be conducting selection trials on August 31 in New Delhi. They will be allowed to take part in it," Tomar said.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the Indian Olympic contingent for breakfast on August 16, he told Vinesh that "self-anger and dejection" were emotions that needed to be avoided especially for sportspersons. Notably, there were reports that Vinesh was depressed and was not even talking to anyone after her defeat in the Olympics. PM Modi invited Vinesh and her family members for a personal meeting later.
Tomar, meanwhile, also made it clear that only those wrestlers who had taken part in this year's national championship will be allowed to take part in the selection trials for the World Championship. Certain exceptions will be made in a few cases.