Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat might skip World Wrestling Championships 2023 trials

Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat are likely to miss the World Wrestling Championships 2023 trials to be held later this month, reported

"Bajrang has said he hasn't made up his mind on the Worlds trials to be held in Delhi in mid-August," a source told the news agency. The Indian Olympic Association-constituted ad-hoc committee for wrestling has reportedly left it to the new WFI governing body members (after they get elected) to take a call on the Worlds trials.

The Worlds will take place in Bulgaria from September 16 and the last date for sending entries by name is August 16. However, the IOA ad-hoc panel has taken "in principle" commitment from the international wrestling federation (UWW) to delay sending the entries.

Bajrang has apparently cited the short time span between the Worlds (September 16-24) and the Asian Games (September 23-October 8) for his indecision. Bajrang and Vinesh have been given direct entries to the Asian Games, which has created a lot of controversy.

The source refused to divulge the whereabouts of wrestlers who had earlier in the day called a press conference at Rajghat but had to shelve the idea due to the imposition of Section 144 in the area owing to the Independence Day preparations.

Earlier in the day, Vinesh had tweeted that due to Section 144 being imposed in and around Rajghat they had to cancel their press conference that was aimed at throwing light on the recent developments.

"The police have imposed Section 144 at Rajghat and have stopped us from holding a press conference. Will finalise the time and place of the next press conference soon," Vinesh tweeted.

Rumours also circulated that the press conference would be held at the Master Chandgiram Akhada, and Jagdish Kaliraman, a former international wrestler and son of late Chandgiram, said he "came to know through the media that a press conference was scheduled at my place."

"I was surprised to see a huge police posse at the akhada. No wrestler approached us requesting for a press conference, and none has visited the akhada. These were just rumours," said Kaliraman.

With inputs from PTI