World Championship medallists Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat have been handed an exemption from competing in the selection trials for the Asian Games.
The exemption means that the two wrestlers will get a direct entry to the Indian squad for the 2023 Asian Games, which is scheduled from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China.
Trials will be conducted in all 18 Olympic weight categories - six each for women’s and men’s freestyle and men's Greco-Roman - which will be contested at the upcoming Asian Games.
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia is India’s premier wrestler in the men’s 65kg category while Vinesh Phogat, a Commonwealth Games champion and world championships medallist, is the dominant grappler in the women’s 53kg division.