‘We did not ask for an exemption from trials, just asked for time to prepare’: Sakshi Malik on Yogeshwar Dutt’s allegations

Bajrang Punia along with several top wrestlers are protesting against WFI chief Singh, demanding his arrest and removal from his position. PTI

New Delhi: The protesting wrestlers on Saturday hit out at those questioning the exemption granted to them from the ongoing trials for Asian Games and World Championships. Asserting that they didn’t ask the Indian Olympics Association for such a favour, they challenged they would quit wrestling if it was proved otherwise.

“We did not ask for an exemption from trials, just asked for time to prepare,” said Sakshi Malik, one the leaders of the wrestlers’ stir against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh, whom they accuse of sexually harassing seven women wrestlers including a minor.

“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 the wrong information,” Malik, the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist, said.

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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 the 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 an exemption. We never wrote any letter for exemption. If our elders feel that we have done anything wrong. We will quit.”

On Friday, London Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt questioned the IOA ad-hoc panel’s decision to grant exemption to six of the protesting wrestlers and asked if they were agitating against the outgoing WFI chief to get such favours.

Calling it an injustice to other wrestlers, especially junior wrestlers, he urged them and their coaches and families to raise their voices against it.

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.

None of the three wrestlers, however, said if they are willing to compete in a full draw and will not accept direct entry into the final.

According to a PTI report, it was Gian Singh and Ashok 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 Ashok Garg were with the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar during their protest.

Sakshi asked Dutt to refrain from spreading the 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 posted a Twitter video on Friday, questioning the logic and criteria behind the decision.

After Dutt’s tweet, Vinesh 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. I have proof of that. 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’s allegation that Vinesh had pulled out of the Indoor Asian Games at the last minute. 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 husband’s relative Om Prakash Dahiya a hefty Rs 25 lakh prize money from the Haryana government though it was her real coach Mahabir Phogat who deserved the cash reward.

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 wrestlers.”

Vinesh also said she did no wrong by getting a posting of her choice.

“It was just a posting, not Prime Ministership,” she said.

With inputs from PTI

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