Vinesh mentioned she selected to compete in each weights as pointers might or might not change after the WFI takes full cost of wrestling affairs.
| Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
In an uncommon growth, double World championships bronze medallist Vinesh Phogat competed in two Olympic weights, 50kg and 53kg, on the similar day and emerged as the winner in the lighter division in the choice trials for the Asian wrestling championships and Asian Olympic Games qualifier held at Patiala on March 11.
Vinesh demanded that the 53kg trials be held on March 12 to let her compete in each weights. After it was determined that the choice couldn’t be stretched to the subsequent day, the ad-hoc committee conducting the trials together with the technical committee determined to enable her to combat in each weights since ‘there is no rule which stops a wrestler from competing in two weights in a trial.’
What UWW says
According to the United World Wrestling’s Article-7, “Each contestant deemed to be taking part of his/her own free will, and responsible for himself/herself, shall be allowed to compete in only one weight category: the one corresponding to his weight at the time of the official weigh-in.”
Vinesh rallied to beat National champion Nirmala Devi 10-0 in the semifinal and Shivanee Pawar 11-6 in the 50kg last, giving herself an opportunity to win a quota place in the decrease weight.
As per the ad-hoc committee pointers, a challenger would find a way to combat with Antim Panghal (who is meant to take part in the Asian championships), the lone quota place winner in 53kg, in the Paris Olympic trials.
Vinesh misplaced 0-10 to Anju in the 53kg semifinals after making certain that she remained in the prime 4 and was eligible to be a challenger to Antim in her most popular weight.
Talking to reporters after the trials, Vinesh mentioned since there isn’t a readability (as pointers might or might not change after the Wrestling Federation of India takes full cost of wrestling affairs) whether or not a challenger would find a way to combat with Antim in 53kg, she selected to compete in each weights.
The chosen wrestlers: Women (Barring 53kg, No.2 in Olympic weights will compete in Asian championships): Olympic weights: 50kg: 1. Vinesh, 2. Shivanee Pawar; 53kg: 1. Anju; 57kg: 1. Anshu Malik, 2. Sarita Mor; 62kg: 1. Mansi Ahlawat, 2. Manisha; 68kg: 1. Nisha Dahiya, 2. Radhika; 76kg: 1. Reetika, 2. Priya Malik; Non-Olympic weight: 55kg: Tamanna; 59kg: Pushpa Yadav; 65kg: Antim Kundu; 72kg: Harshita.
