I never wanted exemption from trials: Sakshi Malik on Asian Games squad selection

Sakshi Malik on Thursday posted a series of tweets from her official Twitter handle and said that she wanted a fair trial in the selection of wrestlers for the Asian Games. This comes after Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were given direct entries for the tournament the Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc committee on Tuesday while other wrestlers will have to book their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and 23.
“We had asked for time for our Asian Games trial from the government and asked them to take the trials after August 10. The government agreed and that is why we came abroad for training. But in the past 2-3 days, I have found out that there were direct entries in 2 weight categories. I was also asked to mail and was told that my application will be considered but I refused. I didn’t want to go without giving a trial as I have never gone to any tournament without a fair trial and neither will I do that in future. I just want that everyone gets justice and there’s a fair selection,” Malik said in a video uploaded on her Twitter handle.
In another tweet, she also slammed the government for trying to create a divide among the wrestlers. “The government has done the work of breaking the unity of the wrestlers sending their names directly to the Asian Games. I have never gone to play without trial nor do I support it. I am durbed this intention of the government. We had talked about extending the date of trials, but the government’s decision has cast us in bad light,” she posted.

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— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) July 20, 2023
Sakshi was one of the leading voices along with Phogat and Punia in protests against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who was accused of sexual harassment.
“We had demanded time from the Ad Hoc committee so that our trials are conducted after August 10 because we were unable to train. Accordingly, they sent a letter giving us time. This is the reason we came out for the training. However, I got a call from the govt saying that they are forwarding the name of both of them (Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat) directly for the Asian Games and asked me to send a mail so that my name could also be forwarded. I refused as I did not want a direct entry. I haven’t been to any tournament without the trials neither will I ever do so in future,” she had also reiterated to ANI earlier on Thursday.

सरकार ने एशियन गेम्स में सीधे नाम भेजकर पहलवानों की एकता को तोड़ने का काम किया है. मैं न कभी बिना ट्रायल खेलने गई हूँ और न ही इसका समर्थन करती हूँ. सरकार की इस मंशा से विचलित हूँ. हमने ट्रायल्स की डेट आगे बढ़वाने की बात कही थी लेकिन सरकार ने हमारी झोली में यह बदनामी डाल दी है.
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) July 20, 2023
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court asked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to state before it the basis for the exemption grant to Phogat and Punia from the Asian Games trials.
Justice Subramonium Prasad, while hearing a petition Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry handed to Phogat and Punia, asked the sporting body to file its response during the day.
“If it (basis for selection) is just, fair and reasonable, it is the end of the matter,” said the judge as he led the matter for hearing on Friday.
The court asked the counsel for the WFI to state what was the basis for selection besides Phogat and Punia being good sportspersons.