Ad-Hoc Committee Decided To Allow Vinesh Phogat To Compete In Two Categories: Bhupender Singh Bajwa

The ad-hoc committee chairman for wresting, Bhupender Singh Bajwa, categorically stated on Monday that all the three members on the IOA-constituted panel agreed to Vinesh Phogat's request to compete in both 50kg and 53kg category at the national trials in Patiala despite the UWW rules stating that a competitor can take part in just one category. Following the ad-hoc panel acceding to her demand, Vinesh, the Jakarta Asian Games gold medallist, defeated Shivani 11-6 in the 50kg weight category to book a place in the Paris Olympics Qualification tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan next month.

She, however, lost the 53kg bout to Anju by technical superiority 0-10.

Vinesh did not let the competition start and demanded a written assurance the she be allowed to compete in two weight categories, leading to a bizarre situation where the boots were delayed by two-and-a-half hours.

"We responded to Vinesh's request to compete in both categories, the entire committee agreed to accommodate her request and allowed her to participate in both," Bajwa told PTI after the completion of the trials to select the teams for the Asian Championships (April 11-16) and Asian Olympic Qualifiers (April 19-21) in Kyrgyzstan.

As per Article 7 of the United World Wrestling (UWW), a contestant can be allowed to take part in one weight category.

"Each contestant deemed to be taking part of his/her own free will, and responsible for himself/herself, shall be allowed to compete in only one weight category: the one corresponding to his weight at the time of the official weigh-in," says Article 7 of the UWW.

Bajwa said the winners of the Patiala trials will go for the Asia Olympic Qualifiers in Kyrgyzstan followed by the World Olympic Qualifiers in May.

"The