Delhi High Court upholds WFI's direct Asian Games slots to Punia & Phogat

THE DELHI HIGH COURT has dismissed the plea from two wrestlers against WFI's decision to grant direct Asian Games qualifications to Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat.

A day after Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the ad-hoc committee running Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to write a letter explaining the decision to grant the direct spots, the follow-up hearing was held, where he said,

"This Court is not commenting upon the merits of the Petitioners herein who have also excelled in the field of wrestling but this Court is not inclined to sit in appeal over the decision taken by the Committee as the same cannot be said to be arbitrary or perverse... It is neither the contention of the Petitioners nor can it be said that the WFI has acted against the interest of the country or that the decision has been taken because of certain extraneous circumstances or in order to favour anyone."

This will allow Bajarang and Vinesh, who both win medals for India in major international events in the past, to participate in the upcoming Asian Games without appearing in the WFI trials.

The abovementioned wrestlers were involved in a months-long protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, alleging him of sexual harassment, molestation as well as financial corruption. The Delhi Police has since decided to bring charges against him.

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