WFI mulling change in Olympics selection policy

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 18

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is mulling a big change in its Olympics selection policy. As per the current policy, the wrestler who has secured a quota place for India at the Olympics through a qualifying tournament is sent to compete at the Olympic Games.

Five years ago, when there was a controversy over who would compete for India in the men’s 74kg freestyle category at the Rio Olympic, WFI had backed Narsingh Pancham Yadav over the then reigning Olympics silver medallist Sushil Kumar. The WFI stated before the Delhi High Court through an affidavit that as a selection policy, they only send quota winners to the Olympic Games.

However, after their below-expectations show at the Tokyo Games — in which Indian wrestlers won two medals — the WFI will review the selection policy.

The annual meeting of the WFI’s general council has been called on November 12 in Gonda, the venue of this year’s National Championships. The agenda of the meeting includes, among other things, plans “to review the selection policy”.

It is understood that the WFI wants to hold trials for the Olympics team as it is buoyed by a number of new contenders in various weight categories. The idea is to hold trials among contenders in a weight class, the winner from which would take on the Olympics quota winner for a place on the Olympics team.

When the idea was first floated, some WFI members had raised objections against it, saying it would be unfair on the quota winners.

Discussions

“We are only at the discussion stage. It is not final. The general council will take the final decision,” said a WFI source. “Having said that, if we go for a change, it will keep the quota winners on their toes. We feel that some quota winners get complacent, thinking no one can take their place. We have a number of wrestlers who can challenge the regular stars now.”

Incidentally, despite its policy, the WFI had held a trial between Pappu Yadav and Kaka Pawar before the 1996 Atlanta Games. Yadav beat Pawar and represented India in Atlanta.